Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sideshow” come from?

Sideshow comes from English side and show, where side derives from Middle English side, Old English sīde, Proto-Germanic sīdǭ, and Proto-Indo-European sētis-, ultimately from the root sek- meaning to cut or divide.

sideshow (English): a minor attraction at a larger event such as a...

Definitions

  1. a minor attraction at a larger event such as a...

Ancestry of “sideshow”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSide—
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdā—
5Medieval Latinsida—
6Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
7Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
8Proto-Italicsaitā—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-—
10Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy

Words derived from “sideshow”

  • sideshowman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂- →