Where does “summat” come from?
Summat derives from English somewhat, which combines English what with Middle English sum, from Old English sum, Proto-Germanic sumaz, and Proto-Indo-European sem- and kʷ-.
summat (English): Something; Somewhat, to a limited extent or...
Definitions
- Something; Somewhat, to a limited extent or...
Ancestry of “summat”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | somewhat | To a limited extent or degree; Something; More or... |
| 2 | English | what | Which thing, event, circumstance, etc.: used... |
| 3 | Middle English | what | — |
| 4 | Old English | hwæt | what; why; how many or how much |
| 5 | Old English | -ing | Forming nouns from verbs, indicating action,... |
| 6 | Old English | -tūn | — |
| 7 | Old English | tūn | enclosure, yard; place; dwelling |
| 8 | Proto-West Germanic | tūn | fence |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | tūną | fence; enclosure |
| 10 | Gaulish | dunum | fort; hill, hillfort |
| 11 | Proto-Celtic | dūnom | stronghold, rampart |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |