Where does “gnat” come from?

gnat (Middle English) comes from Old English gnætt, from Proto-West Germanic *gnatt, from Proto-Germanic gnattaz, from Proto-Indo-European gʰneHdʰn-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰen- — to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;...

gnat (Middle English): A gnat or similar insect; Something of little...

Definitions

  1. A gnat or similar insect; Something of little...

Ancestry of “gnat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishgnætta small flying insect or midge; gnat
2Proto-West Germanic*gnattgnat, mosquito
3Proto-GermanicgnattazA bite or scratch; A biting insect; mosquito
4Proto-Indo-EuropeangʰneHdʰn-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰen-to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;...

Words derived from “gnat”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰen- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰneHdʰn- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gnattaz →