Where does “petticoatery” come from?
petticoatery (English) comes from English petticoat, from English petty, from Middle English peti, from Middle French Petit, from Old French petit, from Gallo-Romance pitittus.
petticoatery (English): A coterie of women or girls
Definitions
- A coterie of women or girls
Ancestry of “petticoatery”, step by step
petticoatery traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English petticoat
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | petticoat | A tight, usually padded undercoat worn by men... |
| 2 | English | petty | Little, small, secondary in rank or importance;... |
| 3 | Middle English | peti | Alternative form of pety |
| 4 | Middle French | Petit | small |
| 5 | Old French | petit | small, little; worthless; valueless; poor; of... |
| 6 | Gallo-Romance | pitittus | — |
via English coterie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | coterie | A circle of people who associate with one... |
| 2 | French | coterie | feudal community of peasants; coterie, clique,... |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | coteria | — |
via English ery
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ery | — |