Where does “watch out” come from?
watch out (English) comes from English watch, from English puppy, from English puppie, from Middle French poupée, from Old French poupée, from Latin pupa, from Latin pupus, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- — few, little; smallness.
watch out (English): To be aware or conscious; to look closely or...
Definitions
- To be aware or conscious; to look closely or...
Ancestry of “watch out”, step by step
watch out traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English watch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | watch | A portable or wearable timepiece; The act of... |
| 2 | English | puppy | A young dog, especially before sexual maturity; A... |
| 3 | English | puppie | Obsolete form of puppy |
| 4 | Middle French | poupée | doll, toy |
| 5 | Old French | poupée | — |
| 6 | Latin | pupa | girl, little girl; doll, puppet; pupa |
| 7 | Latin | pupus | a boy, a child; a puppet; the pupil of the eye |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂w- | few, little; smallness |