Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “glitter” come from?

Glitter comes from Middle English gliteren, from Old Norse glitra, from Proto-Germanic glitrōną, a verb formation with the suffix Proto-Germanic -rōną.

glitter (English): A bright, sparkling light; shininess or...

Definitions

  1. A bright, sparkling light; shininess or...

Ancestry of “glitter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgliteren—
2Old Norseglitra—
3Proto-Germanicglitrōnąto shine, glisten, glitter
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “glitter”

  • glittery
  • aglitter
  • glitterball
  • outglitter
  • beglitter
  • glittersome
  • glitter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →