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

Every word from Proto-Germanic smarōnąEvery word from Old English smearcianEvery word from Middle English smirken