Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “masturbating” come from?

Masturbating derives from Latin masturbari, itself from Latin manus meaning "hand," which traces to Proto-Indo-European man-, cognate with Ancient Greek τύρβη and Proto-Indo-European twerH-.

masturbating (English): present participle of masturbate

Definitions

  1. present participle of masturbate

Ancestry of “masturbating”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmasturbateTo stimulate oneself sexually, especially by use...
2EnglishmasturbationManual erotic stimulation of the genitals or...
3Frenchmasturbationmasturbation
4Latinmasturbatiomasturbation
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “masturbating”

  • nonmasturbating
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →