Where does “piquant” come from?
Piquant comes from Middle French piquant, derived from Middle French piquer, from Old French pikier, from Vulgar Latin piccare, from Frankish pikkōn, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)peyk- meaning to cut or split.
piquant (English): Causing hurt feelings; scathing, severe;...
Definitions
- Causing hurt feelings; scathing, severe;...
Ancestry of “piquant”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | piquant | present participle of piquer; gerund of piquer;... |
| 2 | Middle French | piquer | — |
| 3 | Old French | piquer | to pierce with the tip of a sword |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | piccare | to puncture; to sting, strike; to pierce |
| 5 | Frankish | pikkōn | to peck, strike |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | pikōną | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bew- | "low-pitch humming noise" |