Where does “dust” come from?
dust (Middle English) comes from Old English dūst, from Proto-Germanic dunstą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- — to die, pass away; to run, flow.
dust (Middle English): dust, powder; dirt, grit; iota, modicum
Definitions
- dust, powder; dirt, grit; iota, modicum
Ancestry of “dust”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | dūst | dust, dried earth reduced to powder; other dry... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | dunstą | mist, haze; evaporation; dust |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰew- | to die, pass away; to run, flow |
Words derived from “dust”