Where does “off-off-off-Broadway” come from?

off-off-off-Broadway (English) comes from English off-off-Broadway, from English off-Broadway, from English off-, from Middle English of-, from Old English of-, from Proto-Germanic aba-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂epó — off, away.

off-off-off-Broadway (English): A theatrical production performed in spaces remote from Manhattan, but nonetheless in the greater New York City area, and which otherwise fits the description of an off-off-Broadway show

Definitions

  1. A theatrical production performed in spaces remote from Manhattan, but nonetheless in the greater New York City area, and which otherwise fits the description of an off-off-Broadway show

Ancestry of “off-off-off-Broadway”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishoff-off-BroadwayA New York City area off-Broadway-style show, but not operating under the aegis of the theatrical unions
2Englishoff-BroadwayIn the New York City area, a small theater with fewer than 300 seats, or a production in such a theater, usually away from the Broadway theater district, which operates under special rules from the theatrical unions and permits mounting productions at a much lower cost
3Englishoff-Away from; off
4Middle Englishof-away from; off
5Old Englishof-off, away, from, out of, away from; down;...
6Proto-Germanicaba-away, away from
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂epóoff, away
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂epóEvery word from English off-Every word from Proto-Germanic aba-