fitchew

fitchew · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromvissiō“stench”
2. Middle Dutch · derived fromvitsche
3. Old French · derived fromfissiauls
4. Middle English · inherited fromfitchewes
5. English todayfitchew

From Middle English fitchewes (mistaken as a plural), variant of Middle English fichouse, ficheux, from Old French fissiauls (plural) and fichau, fissel (“polecat”), from Middle Dutch vitsche, visse, fisse (“polecat”), ultimately (via a Northern French dialect) from Latin vissiō (“stench”). Compare French vison (“mink”).

Fitchew · proper noun²

Rare spelling variant of Fitzhugh.

Words from the same roots