Where does “jerkass” come from?
jerkass (English) comes from English ass, from Middle English asse, from Old English assa, from Old English assen, from Latin asinus, from Latin acinus, from Latin acies, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- — sharp.
jerkass (English): An obnoxious or unlikeable person; a jerk
Definitions
- An obnoxious or unlikeable person; a jerk
Ancestry of “jerkass”, step by step
jerkass traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English ass
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ass | Any of several species of horse-like animals,... |
| 2 | Middle English | asse | Alternative form of axen |
| 3 | Old English | assa | ass, donkey |
| 4 | Old English | assen | she-ass |
| 5 | Latin | asinus | a donkey, an ass; an ass, an idiot, a dolt, a... |
| 6 | Latin | acinus | a berry, especially the grape; the seed of a... |
| 7 | Latin | acies | sharp edge or point; battle line; battle,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eḱ- | sharp |