Where does “peekaboo” come from?
peekaboo (English) comes from English peek, from Middle English peken, from English peep, from Middle English pepen, from Middle English piken, from Middle English pyke, from Old English pīc, from Proto-Germanic *pīk — sap, juice.
peekaboo (English): A game for a small child in which one covers...
Definitions
- A game for a small child in which one covers...
Ancestry of “peekaboo”, step by step
peekaboo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English peek
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | peek | To look slyly, or with the eyes half closed, or... |
| 2 | Middle English | peken | — |
| 3 | English | peep | A short, soft, high-pitched sound, as made by a... |
| 4 | Middle English | pepen | — |
| 5 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 6 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 7 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 9 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |
via English Boo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Boo | The Boko language |
| 2 | English | beau | A man with a reputation for fine dress and... |
| 3 | French | beau | handsome, fine, attractive; nice; fair |
| 4 | Middle French | beau | beautiful; handsome; attractive |
| 5 | Old French | beau | Alternative form of biau; fair |
| 6 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 7 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 8 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |