Where does “tiddlywink” come from?
tiddlywink (English) comes from English tiddly, from English wink, from English periwinkle, from Middle English pinewinkle, from Old English pīnewincle, from Latin pina, from Ancient Greek πίνη, from Ancient Greek τηρέω — Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots.
tiddlywink (English): A small disc used in the game of tiddlywinks; An...
Definitions
- A small disc used in the game of tiddlywinks; An...
Ancestry of “tiddlywink”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | tiddly | — |
| 2 | English | wink | To close one's eyes in sleep; To close one's... |
| 3 | English | periwinkle | Any of several evergreen plants of the genus... |
| 4 | Middle English | pinewinkle | — |
| 5 | Old English | pīnewincle | — |
| 6 | Latin | pina | sea pen |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | πίνη | pen shell; pearl shell, pearl |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | τηρέω | to watch over, take care of, guard; to have an... |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | -έω | Used to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -éyeti | Forms causative imperfective verbs from roots;... |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | -yeti | Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots |