Where does “scherzhaft” come from?

scherzhaft (German) comes from German -haft, from Old High German haft, from Proto-Germanic haftaz, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂ptós, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- — to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

scherzhaft (German): jocular

Definitions

  1. jocular

Ancestry of “scherzhaft”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1German-haftan adjectival suffix
2Old High Germanhaft—
3Proto-Germanichaftazcaptive, bound
4Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂ptósgrabbed
5Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂ptós →Every word from Proto-Germanic haftaz →
scherzhaft — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer