Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “girouettism” come from?

girouettism (English) comes from French girouette, from Middle French gyrouete, from French wirewite, from Old Norse veðrviti, from Old Norse veðr, from Proto-Germanic weþruz, from Proto-Indo-European wēt-.

girouettism (English): The practice of frequently altering one's views...

Definitions

  1. The practice of frequently altering one's views...

Ancestry of “girouettism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchgirouetteWeathercock, weather vane; A fickle person
2Middle Frenchgyrouete—
3Frenchwirewite—
4Old Norseveðrvitiweather indicator, weather vane
5Old Norseveðrweather; ram
6Proto-Germanicweþruzyearling lamb; wether, ram
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwēt-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēt- →