Where does “niggle” come from?

niggle (English) comes from Norwegian nigla, from Old Norse hnøggr, from Proto-Germanic hnawwaz, from Proto-Indo-European knew-, from Proto-Indo-European ken- — to arise, begin.

niggle (English): A minor complaint or problem; Small, cramped...

Definitions

  1. A minor complaint or problem; Small, cramped...

Ancestry of “niggle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegianniglato be stingy
2Old Norsehnøggrstingy
3Proto-Germanichnawwaztight; narrow; sparse; meager; lean; scarce
4Proto-Indo-Europeanknew-to scrape; scratch; rub; to scratch; scrape; rub
5Proto-Indo-Europeanken-to arise, begin

Words derived from “niggle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ken- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European knew- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hnawwaz →