Where does “kittenlike” come from?

kittenlike (English) comes from English like, from Dutch luik, from Middle Dutch luke, from Dutch luiken, from Middle Dutch luken, from Old Dutch lūcan, from Proto-West Germanic lūkan, from Proto-Germanic lūkaną — to break, tear; to break, shatter.

kittenlike (English): Resembling a kitten or some aspect of one

Definitions

  1. Resembling a kitten or some aspect of one

Ancestry of “kittenlike”, step by step

kittenlike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English like

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlikeTo enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;...
2Dutchluikhatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych
3Middle Dutchluke
4Dutchluikento close, to shut
5Middle Dutchlukento close, to shut; to close, to become closed
6Old Dutchlūcanto close, shut
7Proto-West Germaniclūkanto close, to shut
8Proto-Germaniclūkanąto close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewǵ-to break, tear; to break, shatter

via English kitten

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkittenA young cat, especially before sexual maturity; A...
2Middle Englishkitounkitten
3Middle Englishcatcat (feline)
4Old Englishcattcat
5Proto-West Germanic*kattucat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewǵ-
kittenlike — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer