Where does “sharp-witted” come from?

sharp-witted (English) comes from English sharp, from Middle English scharp, from Old English sċearp, from Proto-West Germanic skarp, from Proto-Germanic skarpaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kerb-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- — to caw, crow.

sharp-witted (English): Clever, keen of intellect, swift of thought

Definitions

  1. Clever, keen of intellect, swift of thought

Ancestry of “sharp-witted”, step by step

sharp-witted traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English sharp

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsharpTerminating in a point or edge, especially one...
2Middle Englishscharpsharp
3Old Englishsċearpsharp
4Proto-West Germanicskarpsharp
5Proto-Germanicskarpazrough
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kerb-rough, sharp
7Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

via English witted

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwittedhaving a specified form of wit; simple past tense...
2Middle Englishwittedhaving intelligence or understanding
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kerb- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skarpaz →