Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nibbling” come from?

Nibbling comes from English nibble, which derives from English bite, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰeyd-, a root meaning to split or break.

nibbling (English): The act or sound of one who nibbles; A small...

Definitions

  1. The act or sound of one who nibbles; A small...

Ancestry of “nibbling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnibbleA small, quick bite taken with the front teeth;...
2EnglishbyteA short sequence of bits that can be operated on...
3EnglishbiteTo cut into something by clamping the teeth; To...
4Middle Englishbitento bite
5Old Englishbetēonto cover, surround, enclose; to cover, surround,...
6Old Englishtēonto drag, draw, pull; to train, discipline; to...
7Old Englishtēohan—
8Proto-West Germanicteuhanto pull; to lead
9Proto-Germanicteuhanąto lead; to pull behind oneself, draw, drag
10Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “nibbling”

  • nibblingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →