Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “smirk” come from?

Smirk comes from Middle English smirken, from Old English smercian, of unknown origin.

smirk (English): An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent,...

Definitions

  1. An uneven, often crooked smile that is insolent,...

Ancestry of “smirk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsmirken—
2Old Englishsmearcianto smile
3Proto-Germanicsmarōnąto mock; scoff at; deride

Words derived from “smirk”

  • smirking
  • smirky
  • smirkingly
  • smirker
  • smirkily
  • smirkiness
  • smile-smirk
Every word from Proto-Germanic smarōną →