Where does “pikin” come from?

pikin (Nigerian Pidgin) comes from Portuguese pequenino, from Portuguese pequeno, from Old Portuguese pequeno, from Vulgar Latin pitinnus — small.

pikin (Nigerian Pidgin): child

Definitions

  1. child

Ancestry of “pikin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesepequeninoDiminutive of pequeno; wee; boy, child; tiny
2Portuguesepequenosmall; child
3Old Portuguesepequeno—
4Vulgar Latinpitinnussmall
Every word from Vulgar Latin pitinnus →Every word from Old Portuguese pequeno →Every word from Portuguese pequeno →