Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sporty” come from?

Sporty derives from English sport, which is first attested in Middle English and ultimately traces to Old French desport meaning diversion or amusement.

sporty (English): Favourable to sports; Flashy in appearance

Definitions

  1. Favourable to sports; Flashy in appearance

Ancestry of “sporty”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsportAny activity that uses physical exertion or...
2Middle Englishsport—
3Middle Englishdisport—
4Old FrenchdesportAlternative form of deport
5Old Frenchdeportenjoyment; fun
6Latindeportō—
7Latindē-—
8Latindē—
9Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
10Latinposteablative singular of postis
11Proto-Italicposti—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

Words derived from “sporty”

  • sportiness
  • sportily
  • unsporty
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →