Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “scrat” come from?

scrat (English) comes from Middle English scrat, from Old Norse skratti, from Proto-Germanic skrattuz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

scrat (English): To scratch, to use one's nails or claws; To rake;...

Definitions

  1. To scratch, to use one's nails or claws; To rake;...

Ancestry of “scrat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishscrat—
2Old Norseskratti—
3Proto-Germanicskrattuzforest monster; goblin; troll
4Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
5Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →