Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A confidence game or swindle; To obtain...

Ancestry of “grift”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgraftA small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in...
2Middle EnglishgraffeAlternative form of grave
3Old Frenchgreffestylus
4Latingraphiumstylus; pen
5Ancient Greekγραφεῖονpencil
6Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
7Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
9Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

Words derived from “grift”

  • grifter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →