Where does “zest” come from?
Zest comes from French zeste, which derives from Ancient Greek σχιστός meaning split or cleft, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European skey- meaning to cut or split.
zest (English): The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a...
Definitions
- The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a...
Ancestry of “zest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | zeste | A morsel of zest, citrus peel; A small quantity;... |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | σχιστός | cloven, divided; that may be split or cleft;... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | σχίζω | I split, cleave; I divide |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱeyd- | to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |