Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “swatting” come from?

Swatting derives from Middle English swat combined with the Old English participial suffix -ing, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -ungō.

swatting (English): present participle of swat; A motion or gesture...

Definitions

  1. present participle of swat; A motion or gesture...

Ancestry of “swatting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishswatTo beat off, as insects; to bat, strike, or hit;...
2EnglishsquatRelatively short or low, and thick or broad;...
3Middle Englishsquattento squat
4Old Frenchesquatir—
5Old FrenchquatirTo press down, flatten
6Latincoactirepress together, force
7Latincoactusforced, compelled, having been forced; urged,...
8Latincōgō—
9Latincōn-—
10Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
11Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
12Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
13Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
14Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
15Middle Englishkyt—
16Germankitt—
17Old High Germankuti—
18Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
19Proto-Germanickweduzresin
Every word from Proto-Germanic kweduz →