Where does “quickstep” come from?

quickstep (English) comes from English step, from English stepchild, from Middle English stepchild, from Old English stēopċild, from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic kelþaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵelt-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

quickstep (English): A fast foxtrot noted for its complex and...

Definitions

  1. A fast foxtrot noted for its complex and...

Ancestry of “quickstep”, step by step

quickstep traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstepAn advance or movement made from one foot to the...
2EnglishstepchildThe child of one's spouse but not one's own; A...
3Middle Englishstepchildstepchild child of a spouse
4Old Englishstēopċildstepchild
5Old Englishċildchild, youth; fetus; female baby; child
6Proto-Germanickelþazfetus; newborn; infant; child
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵelt-womb
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

via English Quick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishQuickMoving with speed, rapidity or swiftness, or capable of doing so; rapid; fast
2Middle Englishquikliving, alive, active; active, alert; vibrant,...
3Old Englishcwicliving, live, alive; mentally agile; intelligent,...
4Proto-West Germanic*kwikualive
5Proto-Germanickwikwazalive; lively, quick
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷih₃wósalive, living
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷeih₃w-to live
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel-