Where does “pick-quarrel” come from?
pick-quarrel (English) comes from English quarrel, from Middle English quarrel, from Old French quarel, from Vulgar Latin quadrellus, from Latin quādrus, from Latin quattŭor, from Portuguese quarto, from Old Portuguese quarto — and.
pick-quarrel (English): A quarrelsome person; one ready to pick quarrels
Definitions
- A quarrelsome person; one ready to pick quarrels
Ancestry of “pick-quarrel”, step by step
pick-quarrel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English quarrel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | quarrel | A dispute or heated argument; "Often preceded by... |
| 2 | Middle English | quarrel | bolt for an arbalest, crossbow, or siege engine; ... |
| 3 | Old French | quarel | square block of stone; square-headed bolt for a... |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | quadrellus | — |
| 5 | Latin | quādrus | square |
| 6 | Latin | quattŭor | four; 4 |
| 7 | Portuguese | quarto | ordinal form of quatro; fourth; quarter; fourth;... |
| 8 | Old Portuguese | quarto | quarter |
| 9 | Latin | quārtus | fourth |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷeturtos | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷetwóres | four |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷe- | and |
via English pick
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pick | A tool used for digging; a pickaxe; A tool for... |
| 2 | Middle English | piken | To pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or... |
| 3 | Middle English | pyke | A sharp round point or projection; A point or end... |
| 4 | Old English | pīc | pointed object, pick axe |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *pīk | — |
| 6 | Latin | pix | pitch, tar |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pik- | to be angry; pitch; resin |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pi- | sap, juice |