Where does “fight” come from?

fight (Middle English) comes from Old English feht, from Proto-Germanic fahtiz, from Proto-Indo-European péḱtis, from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- — to pluck; livestock; wealth.

fight (Middle English): A fight; a combat engagement

Definitions

  1. A fight; a combat engagement

Ancestry of “fight”, step by step

fight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English feht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishfehtwoolen fleece
2Proto-Germanicfahtizwool; fleece
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpéḱtis—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpeḱ-to pluck; livestock; wealth

via Old English feoht

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishfeohtfight
2Proto-West Germanicfehtanto fight
3Proto-Germanicfehtanąto comb, detangle
4Indo-European*peḱ-—

Words derived from “fight”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peḱ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péḱtis →Every word from Proto-Germanic fahtiz →