Where does “nimble” come from?
Nimble comes from Middle English nymyl, from Old English nǣmel, of uncertain origin and original meaning.
nimble (English): Adept at taking or grasping; Quick and light in...
Definitions
- Adept at taking or grasping; Quick and light in...
Ancestry of “nimble”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | nymyl | — |
| 2 | Old English | numol | able to take, capable of holding |
| 3 | Old English | niman | to take, seize |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | neman | to take |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | nemaną | to take |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | nem- | to distribute; to give, to take |
Words derived from “nimble”