Where does “uppercut” come from?

uppercut (English) comes from English CUT, from Middle English cutten, from Old Norse kytja, from Proto-Germanic kutjaną — to cut.

uppercut (English): A swinging blow aimed upwards at the opponent's...

Definitions

  1. A swinging blow aimed upwards at the opponent's...

Ancestry of “uppercut”, step by step

uppercut traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English CUT

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCUTTo incise, to cut into the surface of something
2Middle Englishcutten—
3Old Norsekytjahovel, small cottage
4Proto-Germanickutjanąto cut

via English upper

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishupperAt a higher level, rank or position; Situated on...
2Middle Englishupper—

Words derived from “uppercut”

Every word from Proto-Germanic kutjaną →Every word from Old Norse kytja →Every word from Middle English cutten →