Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gnit” come from?

gnit (English) comes from Middle English gnit, from Old English gnitte, from Proto-Germanic gnittǭ, from Proto-Indo-European gʰneHdʰn-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰen- — to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;...

gnit (English): A gnat

Definitions

  1. A gnat

Ancestry of “gnit”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgnit—
2Old Englishgnittegnit; gnat
3Proto-Germanicgnittǭgnat; midge
4Proto-Indo-EuropeangʰneHdʰn-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰen-to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰen- →