Where does “olds” come from?

Olds derives from English old plus the English possessive suffix -'s, which developed from Middle English -s, itself from Old French -esse, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European al- meaning to grow or nourish.

olds (English): parents; Information that is no longer new

Definitions

  1. parents; Information that is no longer new

Ancestry of “olds”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishOldOS grid ref SP7873
2Middle Englisholdold; long extant or existent
3Old EnglishaldAlternative form of eald
4Proto-Germanic*ald—
5Proto-Germanicaldazold, grown up
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →
olds — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer