Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “picking” come from?

Picking derives from Middle English pikken, whose origin remains uncertain.

picking (English): present participle of pick; A gathering to pick...

Definitions

  1. present participle of pick; A gathering to pick...

Ancestry of “picking”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpickA tool used for digging; a pickaxe; A tool for...
2Middle EnglishpikenTo pick at; to use a edged tool on; To pierce or...
3Middle EnglishpykeA sharp round point or projection; A point or end...
4Old Englishpīcpointed object, pick axe
5Proto-Germanic*pīk—
6Latinpixpitch, tar
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpik-to be angry; pitch; resin
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpi-sap, juice

Words derived from “picking”

  • nitpicking
  • nitpickingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pi- →