Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “odd” come from?

Odd comes from Middle English od, derived from Old Norse oddr, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁-, a root of uncertain meaning.

odd (English): Differing from what is usual, ordinary or...

Definitions

  1. Differing from what is usual, ordinary or...

Ancestry of “odd”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoddeinflection of od: ## weak singular ## strong/weak...
2Old Norseoddiodd, third or additional number; triangle
3Old Norse-i—
4Latin-ē—
5Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
6Latincalceusshoe
7Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
8Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “odd”

  • odds
  • oddball
  • Oddfellow
  • oddish
  • oddment
  • oddsmaker
  • oddsmaking
  • oddling
  • odd man
  • oddship
  • oddsome
  • nonodd
  • oddsboard
  • oddsman
  • odds
  • odds
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →