Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “putz” come from?

putz (English) comes from German Putz, from German putzen, from Middle High German butze, from Proto-Germanic buttaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰudʰnós, from Proto-Indo-European bʰudʰmḗn, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

putz (English): Fool, idiot; Jerk; Penis

Definitions

  1. Fool, idiot; Jerk; Penis

Ancestry of “putz”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPutzanything adding to outer comeliness, especially
2Germanputzento clean, especially by rubbing with something...
3Middle High Germanbutzelump, piece, stump
4Proto-Germanicbuttazcut off; chopped; stumpy; end; piece
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰnósbottom
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →