Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “zesty” come from?

zesty (English) comes from English zest, from French zeste, from Ancient Greek σχιστός, from Ancient Greek σχίζω, from Proto-Indo-European sḱeyd-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy-, from Proto-Germanic skaidą, from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

zesty (English): Having a piquant or pungent taste; spicy; Zestful

Definitions

  1. Having a piquant or pungent taste; spicy; Zestful

Ancestry of “zesty”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishzestThe outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a...
2FrenchzesteA morsel of zest, citrus peel; A small quantity;...
3Ancient Greekσχιστόςcloven, divided; that may be split or cleft;...
4Ancient GreekσχίζωI split, cleave; I divide
5Proto-Indo-Europeansḱeyd-to shade; to cut off; to part with, separate, cut...
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
7Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

Words derived from “zesty”

  • zestiness
  • zestily
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →