Where does “grift” come from?
grift (English) comes from English graft, from Middle English graffe, from Old French greffe, from Latin graphium, from Ancient Greek γραφεῖον, from Ancient Greek γράφω, from Proto-Hellenic grəpʰō, from Proto-Indo-European gerbʰ- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
grift (English): A confidence game or swindle; To obtain...
Definitions
- A confidence game or swindle; To obtain...
Ancestry of “grift”, step by step
grift traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English graft
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | graft | A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in... |
| 2 | Middle English | graffe | Alternative form of grave |
| 3 | Old French | greffe | stylus |
| 4 | Latin | graphium | stylus; pen |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | γραφεῖον | pencil |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |