Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Bug” come from?

Bug (German) comes from Polish Bug, from English Bug, from English bugge, from Middle English bugge, from Proto-Germanic bugja-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Bug (German): bow, prow; nose; shoulder joint

Definitions

  1. bow, prow; nose; shoulder joint

Ancestry of “Bug”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PolishBug—
2EnglishBugA Volkswagen Beetle car; A Bugatti car
3Englishbuggebeetle
4Middle Englishbuggebogy, hobgoblin, bugbear; scarecrow
5Proto-Germanicbugja-swollen up, thick
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →