Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “smack” come from?

Smack comes from Old English smæc, from Proto-Germanic smakkuz, from Proto-Indo-European smegʰ-.

smack (English): A distinct flavor, especially if slight; A slight...

Definitions

  1. A distinct flavor, especially if slight; A slight...

Ancestry of “smack”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchsmakkento smack, to crash hard; to make noise while...
2Dutchenand; well, so; plus, and
3Middle Dutchendeand; end
4Old Dutchendiend
5Proto-West Germanicandīend
6Proto-Germanicandijazend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂entíosfront; forehead
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “smack”

  • smacking
  • smooch
  • smacker
  • smoochy
  • smackhead
  • gobsmacking
  • smackingly
  • smacky
  • smoochie
  • gobsmackingly
  • smackable
  • smoocher
  • smoochy-woochy
  • foresmack
  • smackless
  • smoochiness
  • smoochily
  • smoochfest
  • smackee
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →