Where does “rattrap” come from?
rattrap (English) comes from English trap, from Middle English trappe, from Old English træppe, from Proto-Germanic trap-, from Proto-Indo-European dreb-, from Proto-Indo-European der- — to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...
rattrap (English): A device used to catch rats; A dilapidated...
Definitions
- A device used to catch rats; A dilapidated...
Ancestry of “rattrap”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | trap | A machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body |
| 2 | Middle English | trappe | trap |
| 3 | Old English | træppe | a trap |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | trap- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dreb- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | der- | to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to... |