Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “quitter” come from?

Quitter comes from English quit, derived from Latin coctura (cooking), from Latin coquo (to cook), ultimately expressing the sense of preparation or completion through the action of cooking.

quitter (English): Matter flowing from a wound or sore; pus; A...

Definitions

  1. Matter flowing from a wound or sore; pus; A...

Ancestry of “quitter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishquitTo pay; To repay for; To repay, pay back
2Middle Englishquiten—
3Anglo-Normanquitterto liberate; to free
4Old Frenchquitterto liberate; to free
5Old Frenchquittefree; liberated
6Latinquiētus—
7Latinquiēscō—
8Latinquiēs—
9Proto-Italickʷiētis—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyéh₁tis—
11Proto-Indo-Europeankʷyeh₁-to rest; rest, peace

Words derived from “quitter”

  • nonquitter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷyeh₁- →