Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “spooning” come from?

Spooning derives from English spoon, which comes from English spume, from Proto-Germanic spēnuz, from Latin spuma meaning foam, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots related to scattering and spitting.

spooning (English): present participle of spoon; The act of picking...

Definitions

  1. present participle of spoon; The act of picking...

Ancestry of “spooning”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspoonAn implement for eating or serving; a scooped...
2Middle EnglishspoonAlternative form of spone
3Old Englishspōnpiece of wood, chip; sliver, chip of wood,...
4Proto-West Germanicspanu—
5Proto-Germanicspenônipple
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpsten-os-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpstḗnbreast, teat
8Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn—
9Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- →