Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “purpeys” come from?

purpeys (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman porpeis, from Old French pourpois, from Vulgar Latin porcopiscis, from Latin porcus, from Proto-Italic porkos, from Proto-Indo-European pórḱos, from Proto-Indo-European perḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European per- — passed , crossed.

Ancestry of “purpeys”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normanporpeisporpoise
2Old Frenchpourpois—
3Vulgar Latinporcopiscisporpoise
4Latinporcusa piglet, a young pig; a pig, hog; Short for...
5Proto-Italicporkospig
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpórḱospiglet
7Proto-Indo-Europeanperḱ-colored; motley; to open, rip up
8Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “purpeys”

  • porpoise
  • พอร์พอยส์
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →