Where does “pratfall” come from?

pratfall (English) comes from English fall, from Middle English fall, from Old English feall, from Proto-Germanic fallą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pōl- — to fall.

pratfall (English): A fall onto the buttocks; A humiliating mistake;...

Definitions

  1. A fall onto the buttocks; A humiliating mistake;...

Ancestry of “pratfall”, step by step

pratfall traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English fall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishfall"To be moved downwards."; "To move downwards.";...
2Middle Englishfall—
3Old EnglishfeallAlternative form of fiell
4Proto-Germanicfallą—
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pōl-to fall

via English prat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpratA cunning or mischievous trick; a prank, a joke;...
2Middle Englishprat—
3Old Englishprætttrick, prank, practical joke
4Proto-Germanicprattuzboastful talk; deceit, trickery, stratagem, list,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbrodnó-to wander about
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pōl- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fallą →Every word from Old English feall →