Where does “gloat” come from?

Gloat comes from Middle English gloten, from Old Norse glotta, of unknown ultimate origin.

gloat (English): To exhibit a conspicuous pleasure or sense of...

Definitions

  1. To exhibit a conspicuous pleasure or sense of...

Ancestry of “gloat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgloten—
2Old Norseglottato grin, smile scornfully
3Proto-GermanicglutōnąTo stare; gawk
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “gloat”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic glutōną →Every word from Old Norse glotta →