Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “shimmy” come from?

shimmy (English) comes from English chemise, from French chemise, from Latin camisia, from Proto-West Germanic *hamiþi, from Proto-Germanic hamō, from Proto-Germanic hamô, from Proto-Indo-European ḱem- — to cover, conceal; hornless.

shimmy (English): A dance movement involving thrusting the...

Definitions

  1. A dance movement involving thrusting the...

Ancestry of “shimmy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchemiseA loose shirtlike undergarment, especially for...
2Frenchchemiseshirt; folder; chemise
3Latincamisiashirt; nightgown; alb
4Proto-West Germanic*hamiþi—
5Proto-Germanichamō—
6Proto-Germanichamôcover, skin; clothes, skirt, fishnet; harness,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱem-to cover, conceal; hornless
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱem- →