Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “shudder” come from?

Shudder comes from Middle English shudderen, from Middle Dutch schudderen, of uncertain origin and meaning.

shudder (English): A shivering tremor, often from fear or horror; A...

Definitions

  1. A shivering tremor, often from fear or horror; A...

Ancestry of “shudder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishschoderen—
2Middle Dutchschudderen—
3Proto-Germanicskudjaną—

Words derived from “shudder”

  • shuddery
  • shuddersome
  • shudderest
  • shudderful
  • shuddereth
Every word from Proto-Germanic skudjaną →