Where does “stepdad” come from?
stepdad (English) comes from English step-, from Middle English step-, from Old English stēop-, from Proto-Germanic steupa-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.
stepdad (English): A stepfather
Definitions
- A stepfather
Ancestry of “stepdad”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | step- | A prefix used before "father", "mother",... |
| 2 | Middle English | step- | step- related through the marriage of a parent |
| 3 | Old English | stēop- | deprived of a relative, step- |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | steupa- | step- |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tewp- | to push, to stick |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tew- | to push, to hit |