Where does “knifepoint” come from?
knifepoint (English) comes from English point, from Middle English point, from Old French point, from Latin pūnctum, from Latin punctus, from Latin -tus, from Proto-Italic -tus, from Proto-Indo-European -tus — Derives action nouns from verb roots.
knifepoint (English): The pointed end of a knife
Definitions
- The pointed end of a knife
Ancestry of “knifepoint”, step by step
knifepoint traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English point
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | point | A discrete division of something; A sharp... |
| 2 | Middle English | point | — |
| 3 | Old French | point | a sting; a prick; moment; time; dot |
| 4 | Latin | pūnctum | point |
| 5 | Latin | punctus | pricked, punctured, pierced, having been pricked;... |
| 6 | Latin | -tus | Forms the past participle of verbs; Forms... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -tus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -tus | Derives action nouns from verb roots |
via English knife
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | knife | A utensil or a tool designed for cutting,... |
| 2 | Middle English | knyf | A knife as a tool or instrument; the following... |
| 3 | Old English | cnīf | knife |
| 4 | Old Norse | knífr | knife |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | knībaz | pincers; shears; knife |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | knīpaną | to pinch |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵneybʰ- | — |