Where does “étoffe” come from?
étoffe (French) comes from French étoffer, from Middle French estoffer, from Old French estoffer, from Old High German stoffōn, from Old Dutch stuppon, from Proto-Germanic stuppōną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewb-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.
étoffe (French): fabric, material; stuff
Ancestry of “étoffe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | étoffer | to stuff; to upholster; to fill out |
| 2 | Middle French | estoffer | to decorate, to garnish |
| 3 | Old French | estoffer | to decorate, garnish |
| 4 | Old High German | stoffōn | — |
| 5 | Old Dutch | stuppon | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | stuppōną | to stop; to close |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tewb- | to push, hit; to push; stick; to push, butt,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)tew- | to push, to hit |