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
- A minor complaint or problem; Small, cramped...
Ancestry of “niggle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Norwegian | nigla | to be stingy |
| 2 | Old Norse | hnøggr | stingy |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | hnawwaz | tight; narrow; sparse; meager; lean; scarce |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | knew- | to scrape; scratch; rub; to scratch; scrape; rub |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ken- | to arise, begin |
Words derived from “niggle”