Where does “pithiness” come from?
pithiness (English) comes from English pithy, from English pith, from English helmet, from Middle English helmet, from Old French helmet, from Old French helme, from Medieval Latin helmus, from Frankish helm — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.
pithiness (English): The condition of being pithy
Definitions
- The condition of being pithy
Ancestry of “pithiness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pithy | Concise and meaningful; Of, like, or abounding in... |
| 2 | English | pith | The soft, spongy substance in the center of the... |
| 3 | English | helmet | A protective head covering, usually part of... |
| 4 | Middle English | helmet | A helmet; an armoured piece of headgear |
| 5 | Old French | helmet | — |
| 6 | Old French | helme | helmet |
| 7 | Medieval Latin | helmus | helmet |
| 8 | Frankish | helm | helmet |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | helmaz | helmet |
| 10 | Proto-Germanic | halmaz | halm; stem; stalk; straw; hay |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱolh₂mos | stalk |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱelh₂- | to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab |