Where does “whit” come from?
Whit comes from Middle English whit, from Old English wiht meaning creature or thing, from Proto-Germanic wihtiz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots weǵʰ-, wekʷ-, and weyk- relating to vital force or movement.
whit (English): The smallest part or particle imaginable; an...
Definitions
- The smallest part or particle imaginable; an...
Ancestry of “whit”, step by step
whit traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English wight
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wight | A creature, a being; A person, a human being; A... |
| 2 | Old English | wiht | creature, person, thing, being; weight |
| 3 | Latin | Vectis | Isle of Wight |
| 4 | Proto-Celtic | wextā | time, course, turn |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |
via Middle English wiȝt
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wiȝt | — |