Where does “ferret” come from?
ferret (French) comes from French -et, from Middle French -et, from Old French -et, from Latin -ātus, from Proto-Italic -ātos, from Proto-Indo-European -éh₂tos.
ferret (French): tag; aglet, aiguillette
Ancestry of “ferret”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | -et | suffix indicating diminution or affection |
| 2 | Middle French | -et | Used to form a diminutive, masculine noun |
| 3 | Old French | -et | Used to form a diminutive, masculine noun;... |
| 4 | Latin | -ātus | — |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | -ātos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -éh₂tos | — |