Where does “skitterish” come from?
skitterish (English) comes from English skitter, from English skite, from Middle English skyt, from Old Norse skítr, 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,...
skitterish (English): skittish
Definitions
- skittish
Ancestry of “skitterish”, step by step
skitterish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English skitter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | skitter | To move hurriedly or as by bouncing or twitching;... |
| 2 | English | skite | A sudden hit or blow; a glancing blow; A trick; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | skyt | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | skítr | dung, faeces |
| 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 ish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ish | Pronunciation spelling of is; somewhat,... |
| 2 | English | -ish | Typical of, similar to, being like; Somewhat,... |
| 3 | Middle English | -ish | Alternative form of -yssh |
| 4 | Old English | -isċ | -ish |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | -isk | Creates adjectives from nouns |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -iskaz | Forms adjectives from nouns with the sense of... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -iskos | Characteristic of, typical of, pertaining to |