Where does “netspeak” come from?

netspeak (English) comes from English Net, from Middle English net, from Anglo-Norman neit, from Old French net, from Vulgar Latin nittus, from Latin nitidus, from Latin nitere, from Latin niteo.

netspeak (English): An informal form of written language used on the...

Definitions

  1. An informal form of written language used on the...

Ancestry of “netspeak”, step by step

netspeak traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Net

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNetthe Internet
2Middle Englishnetworthy, good, pure, fine, elegant
3Anglo-Normanneitgood, desireable, clean
4Old Frenchnetneat, decent
5Vulgar Latinnittus
6Latinnitidusshining, polished, glittering; handsome,...
7Latinniteresecond-person singular future active indicative...
8LatinniteoI am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanney-to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited
10Cebuano-hi

via English speak

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspeakTo communicate with one's voice, to say words out...
2Middle Englishspeke
3Old EnglishspecanAlternative form of sprecan; to speak
4Old Englishsprecanto speak, talk
5Proto-West Germanic*sprekanto speak
6Proto-Germanicsprekanąto speak, to make a noise
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspreg-to make a sound, speak; to make a sound, utter,...
Every word from Cebuano -hi
netspeak — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer