Where does “gnat-strainer” come from?
gnat-strainer (English) comes from English strainer, from English strain, from Middle English straynen, from Old French estreindre, from Vulgar Latin strinctus, from Latin strictus, from Latin stringere, from Latin stringo — strong, firm, stiff, rigid; rigid, stiff; to...
gnat-strainer (English): A fusspot
Definitions
- A fusspot
Ancestry of “gnat-strainer”, step by step
gnat-strainer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English strainer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | strainer | A device through which a liquid is passed for... |
| 2 | English | strain | Race; lineage, pedigree; A particular variety of... |
| 3 | Middle English | straynen | — |
| 4 | Old French | estreindre | to strain |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | strinctus | tightened, compressed |
| 6 | Latin | strictus | tightened, compressed, having been tightened;... |
| 7 | Latin | stringere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | stringo | I press, tighten, compress; I unsheath |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | stringō | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | streyg- | to strike; to shear |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ter- | strong, firm, stiff, rigid; rigid, stiff; to... |
via English Gnat
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gnat | A type of jet fighter aircraft |
| 2 | Middle English | gnat | A gnat or similar insect; Something of little... |
| 3 | Old English | gnætt | a small flying insect or midge; gnat |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *gnatt | gnat, mosquito |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | gnattaz | A bite or scratch; A biting insect; mosquito |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰneHdʰn- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰen- | to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;... |