Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nit” come from?

Nit comes from Latin nitere, a verb derived from Latin nitor meaning "to shine," with the suffix Latin -or, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱ(o)nid- and Proto-Indo-European -ōs.

nit (English): The egg of a louse; A young louse; A head louse...

Definitions

  1. The egg of a louse; A young louse; A head louse...

Ancestry of “nit”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinniteresecond-person singular future active indicative...
2LatinniteoI am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,...
3Proto-Indo-Europeanney-to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited
4Cebuano-hi—

Words derived from “nit”

  • nitty
  • nitpicking
  • nitpick
  • nitpicky
  • nitpicker
  • nitter
  • nitpickingly
  • nitpickiness
  • nittings
  • nittily
  • nitpickish
  • nitpickery
  • nitgrass
Every word from Cebuano -hi →