Where does “startle” come from?
Startle comes from Middle English startlen, from Old English steartlian, of unknown origin.
startle (English): To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling...
Definitions
- To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling...
Ancestry of “startle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | startlen | — |
| 2 | Old English | steartlian | to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear |