Where does “pickaninny” come from?

pickaninny (English) comes from Portuguese pequenino, from Portuguese pequeno, from Old Portuguese pequeno, from Vulgar Latin pitinnus — small.

pickaninny (English): A black child; Little, small

Definitions

  1. A black child; Little, small

Ancestry of “pickaninny”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesepequeninoDiminutive of pequeno; wee; boy, child; tiny
2Portuguesepequenosmall; child
3Old Portuguesepequeno—
4Vulgar Latinpitinnussmall

Words derived from “pickaninny”

Every word from Vulgar Latin pitinnus →Every word from Old Portuguese pequeno →Every word from Portuguese pequeno →