Where does “go postal” come from?
go postal (English) comes from English postal, from English post, from Middle French poste, from Italian posta, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.
go postal (English): To become erratic and aggressive, often by...
Definitions
- To become erratic and aggressive, often by...
Ancestry of “go postal”, step by step
go postal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English postal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | postal | Relating to the collection, sorting and delivery... |
| 2 | English | post | A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground;... |
| 3 | Middle French | poste | — |
| 4 | Italian | posta | mail, post; post office; stakes |
| 5 | Latin | probāre | — |
| 6 | Latin | probō | to approve, permit, commend |
| 7 | Latin | Probus | good, serviceable, excellent, superior, able |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro-bhwo- | being in front, prominent |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via English go
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | go | To move, either physically or in an abstract sense |
| 2 | Middle English | goon | Alternative form of gon |
| 3 | Middle English | gon | to go; past participle of gon; Alternative form... |
| 4 | Old English | gān | to go |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | gān | to go |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | gāną | to go, walk |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰengʰ- | to walk; to step |