Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “zigzagging” come from?

Zigzagging comes from French zigzag, a word of imitative origin likely evoking the sharp angular movements it describes.

zigzagging (English): present participle of zigzag; winding, twisting,...

Definitions

  1. present participle of zigzag; winding, twisting,...

Ancestry of “zigzagging”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishzigzaga line or path that proceeds by sharp turns in...
2Frenchzigzagzigzag
3GermanZickzackzigzag
4Italianzigzagareintransitive; to zigzag; to walk in a zigzag...
5Russianзигза́г—

Words derived from “zigzagging”

  • zigzaggingly
Every word from Russian зигза́г →