Where does “knock about” come from?
knock about (English) comes from English about, from Middle English aboute, from Old English onbūtan, from Old English on-, from Proto-West Germanic ana-, from Proto-Germanic ana — on, at; on, onto; ana.
knock about (English): An informal game involving physical activity,...
Definitions
- An informal game involving physical activity,...
Ancestry of “knock about”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | about | In a circle around; all round; on every side of;... |
| 2 | Middle English | aboute | around |
| 3 | Old English | onbūtan | — |
| 4 | Old English | on- | forming verbs and adjectives from participles and... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | ana- | Forming verbs and adjectives from participles and... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | ana | on, at; on, onto; ana |