Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “stincan” come from?

stincan (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic *stinkwan, from Proto-Germanic stinkwaną, from Proto-Indo-European stengʷ- — to push.

stincan (Old English): to smell; to stink

Definitions

  1. to smell; to stink

Ancestry of “stincan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanic*stinkwan—
2Proto-Germanicstinkwanąto hit; thrust; clash; to emit a smell; stink
3Proto-Indo-Europeanstengʷ-to push

Words derived from “stincan”

  • stink
  • stinking
  • stank
  • stinker
  • stinkwood
  • stinketh
  • stinkbug
  • stinkpot
  • stinko
  • stinkweed
  • stinkard
  • stinkhorn
  • stanky
  • stinkingly
  • stinkwort
  • stinkhole
  • stinkball
  • stinkbomb
  • stinksome
  • stinkeroo
  • stinkdamp
  • stinkstone
  • stinkest
  • stinkbait
Every word from Proto-Indo-European stengʷ- →