Where does “nestling” come from?
Nestling derives from English nestle with the Middle English suffix -ing, from Old English -ing and -ung, from Proto-Germanic -ungō and -janą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European nisdós.
nestling (English): A small, young bird that is still confined to the...
Definitions
- A small, young bird that is still confined to the...
Ancestry of “nestling”, step by step
nestling traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English nest
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nest | A structure built by a bird as a place to... |
| 2 | Middle English | nest | nest |
| 3 | Old English | nēst | nest |
| 4 | Old English | nīehst | nearest, next |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | **nāhwist(ō) | nearest, closest |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | nēhwist | nearest, closest |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | nēhw | near, close |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | nēhwaz | near, close |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂nḗḱwos | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂neḱ- | to reach, to attain |
via English nestle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nestle | To settle oneself comfortably and snugly; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | nestelen | — |
| 3 | Old English | nistlan | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | nistilōn | to make or build a nest; to occupy a nest; nestle |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | nistijan | to nest, to nestle |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | nest | nest |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | nestą | nest; provisions; food and supplies |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | nisdós | nest |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ni | down |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁én | in |
via Middle English nestling
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | nestling | — |