Where does “wastrel” come from?

wastrel (English) comes from English waste, from Middle English wasten, from Old Northern French waster — to waste, devastate.

wastrel (English): One who is profligate, who wastes time or...

Definitions

  1. One who is profligate, who wastes time or...

Ancestry of “wastrel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwasteExcess of material, useless by-products or...
2Middle Englishwastento waste, lay waste
3Old Northern Frenchwasterto waste, devastate
Every word from Old Northern French waster →