Where does “knockoff” come from?
knockoff (English) comes from English off, from Middle English of, from Old English of, from Old English æf, from Proto-Germanic *ab, from Proto-Indo-European apó.
knockoff (English): An imitation of something, particularly a...
Definitions
- An imitation of something, particularly a...
Ancestry of “knockoff”, step by step
knockoff traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English off
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | off | In a direction away from the speaker or object;... |
| 2 | Middle English | of | of; off; until |
| 3 | Old English | of | of, from, off, out of |
| 4 | Old English | æf | of |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *ab | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | apó | — |
via English knock
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | knock | An abrupt rapping sound, as from an impact of a... |
| 2 | Middle English | knokken | To pound; to beat down |
| 3 | Old English | cnocian | to knock; to knock on something; to hit, strike |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | knukōną | To pound on; beat on; knock |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gnew- | a bundle; knot; knot, bundle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gen- | to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up, concentrate; to... |