Where does “pawful” come from?
pawful (English) comes from English paw, from Middle English pawe, from Old French poue, from Frankish pōta, from Proto-Germanic putōną, from Proto-Indo-European bud- — to shoot, sprout; to swell.
pawful (English): As much as a paw can hold
Definitions
- As much as a paw can hold
Ancestry of “pawful”, step by step
pawful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English paw
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | paw | The soft foot of a mammal or other animal,... |
| 2 | Middle English | pawe | paw; claw, talon; rough, vicious hand |
| 3 | Old French | poue | — |
| 4 | Frankish | pōta | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | putōną | to stick, stab, poke; to push |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bud- | to shoot, sprout; to swell |
via English ful
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ful | — |