Where does “pikin” come from?
pikin (Krio) comes from Portuguese pequenino, from Portuguese pequeno, from Old Portuguese pequeno, from Vulgar Latin pitinnus — small.
pikin (Krio): child
Ancestry of “pikin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | pequenino | Diminutive of pequeno; wee; boy, child; tiny |
| 2 | Portuguese | pequeno | small; child |
| 3 | Old Portuguese | pequeno | — |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | pitinnus | small |