Where does “shenanigans” come from?
Shenanigans derives from English shenanigan plus the English plural suffix -s, with shenanigan itself tracing through Middle English -s, Old French -esse, and Proto-Indo-European -iskos and -ēs elements whose original meanings remain uncertain.
shenanigans (English): Mischievous play, especially by children;...
Definitions
- Mischievous play, especially by children;...
Ancestry of “shenanigans”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -s | Used to form regular plurals of nouns; Used to... |
| 2 | English | ’s | — |
| 3 | English | Kingstown | OS grid ref NY3959 |
| 4 | English | town | A settlement; an area with residential districts,... |
| 5 | Middle English | toun | town |
| 6 | Middle English | ende | The end or finishing of a thing; the terminal... |
| 7 | Old English | ende | end, limit, border, corner |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | andi | in addition, furthermore, and |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |