Where does “midget” come from?
Midget derives from English midge, which comes from Middle English mydge, Old English mycg, Proto-Germanic mugjō, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European mū-, a root associated with small flying insects.
midget (English): A little sandfly; Any small swarming insect...
Definitions
- A little sandfly; Any small swarming insect...
Ancestry of “midget”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | midge | any of various small two-winged flies, for... |
| 2 | Middle English | mydge | midge |
| 3 | Old English | myċġ | gnat; midge, gnat; mosquito |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | mugjō | midge, mosquito, gnat |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mū- | fly, mosquito; fly, midge; lips, muzzle |
Words derived from “midget”