Where does “shitbait” come from?
shitbait (English) comes from English shit, from Middle Dutch schite, from Old Dutch skīta, from Old Saxon skiti, from Proto-Germanic skītaz, from Proto-Indo-European sḱeyd-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy-, from Proto-Germanic skaidą — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
Ancestry of “shitbait”, step by step
shitbait traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English shit
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | shit | Solid excretory product evacuated from the... |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | schite | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | skīta | — |
| 4 | Old Saxon | skiti | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | skītaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱeyd- | to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |
via English bait
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bait | Any substance, especially food, used in catching... |
| 2 | Middle English | bayte | Bait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;... |
| 3 | Old Norse | beita | to graze; to allow, let, make bite; to steer or... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | baitō | That which is or can be bitten; food; bait |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyd- | to split |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰey- | bee |