Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “stickleback” come from?

stickleback (English) comes from English stickle, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

stickleback (English): Any one of numerous species of small fish of the...

Definitions

  1. Any one of numerous species of small fish of the...

Ancestry of “stickleback”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstickleA sharp point; prickle; a spine; steep; high;...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-āre—
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
10Chichewaiyehe, she
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