Where does “skiffer” come from?
skiffer (English) comes from English skiff, from Middle English skif, from Middle French esquif, from Old Italian schifo, from Lombardic skif, from Proto-Germanic skipą, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy-, from Proto-Germanic skaidą — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
skiffer (English): Slate
Definitions
- Slate
Ancestry of “skiffer”, step by step
skiffer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English skiff
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | skiff | A small flat-bottomed open boat with a pointed... |
| 2 | Middle English | skif | — |
| 3 | Middle French | esquif | — |
| 4 | Old Italian | schifo | small boat |
| 5 | Lombardic | skif | boat |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skipą | ship; hollow object |
| 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,... |