Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “quiddler” come from?

quiddler (English) comes from English quiddle, from Latin quid, from Proto-Italic kʷid, from Proto-Indo-European kʷíd, from Proto-Indo-European kʷís, from Proto-Indo-European kʷi- — interrogative base.

quiddler (English): A waster of time; an idler or dawdler

Definitions

  1. A waster of time; an idler or dawdler

Ancestry of “quiddler”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishquiddleTo talk nonsense or speak vaguely, to waffle; To...
2Latinquidneuter nominative/accusative singular of quis;...
3Proto-Italickʷid—
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷídneuter nominative/accusative singular of *kʷís
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷíswho, what; who, which, that; which, what
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷi-interrogative base
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷi- →