Where does “but” come from?
but (Middle French) comes from Old French but, from Old French butte, from Frankish but, from Proto-Germanic *butą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewd-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
but (Middle French): mark, goal
Ancestry of “but”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | but | aim, goal, end, target; end, aim, purpose |
| 2 | Old French | butte | but, mark; mound, knoll, target |
| 3 | Frankish | but | stump, log |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *butą | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewd- | to hit, strike; to beat, push; to strike, push,... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |