Where does “daft” come from?
daft (Middle English) comes from Middle English defte, from Old English dæfte, from Proto-West Germanic daftī, from Proto-Germanic dabaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰabʰ- — appropriate, good, fitting.
daft (Middle English): Alternative form of defte; gentle
Definitions
- Alternative form of defte; gentle
Ancestry of “daft”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | defte | Mild, polite, respectful, modest; Unexciting,... |
| 2 | Old English | dæfte | accommodating; meek; mild; gentle |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | daftī | fitting, suitable |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | dabaną | to come to pass, occur, happen; to fit, be... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰabʰ- | appropriate, good, fitting |