Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a...

Ancestry of “zest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FrenchzesteA morsel of zest, citrus peel; A small quantity;...
2Ancient Greekσχιστόςcloven, divided; that may be split or cleft;...
3Ancient GreekσχίζωI split, cleave; I divide
4Proto-Indo-Europeansḱeyd-to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut...
5Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
6Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

Words derived from “zest”

  • zesty
  • zestful
  • zestfully
  • zester
  • zestless
  • zestfulness
  • zestiness
  • zestily
  • zestlessness
  • zestlessly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →