Where does “kwaai” come from?

kwaai (English) comes from Afrikaans kwaai, from Dutch kwaad, from Middle Dutch quâet, from Old Dutch kwāt, from Old Saxon kwād, from Proto-Germanic kwēdą, from Proto-Indo-European gʷuē- — excrement, dung.

kwaai (English): bad-tempered; aggressive; cool; excellent

Definitions

  1. bad-tempered; aggressive; cool; excellent

Ancestry of “kwaai”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaanskwaaicool
2Dutchkwaadangry, furious; bad, evil, crooked; evil
3Middle Dutchquâetevil
4Old Dutchkwāt—
5Old Saxonkwād—
6Proto-Germanickwēdąmanure; dung; filth; muck; wickedness; evil
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷuē-excrement, dung
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷuē- →Every word from Proto-Germanic kwēdą →Every word from Old Saxon kwād →