Where does “spoon-feed” come from?
spoon-feed (English) comes from English spoon, from Middle English spoon, from Old English spōn, from Proto-West Germanic spanu, from Proto-Germanic spenô, from Proto-Indo-European psten-os-, from Proto-Indo-European pstḗn, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn — to stand.
spoon-feed (English): To help somebody to eat using a spoon; to feed...
Definitions
- To help somebody to eat using a spoon; to feed...
Ancestry of “spoon-feed”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | spoon | An implement for eating or serving; a scooped... |
| 2 | Middle English | spoon | Alternative form of spone |
| 3 | Old English | spōn | piece of wood, chip; sliver, chip of wood,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | spanu | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | spenô | nipple |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | psten-os- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pstḗn | breast, teat |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |