flutter

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*flutōną“to float”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*flutrōną
3. Old English · inherited fromfloterian
4. Middle English · inherited fromfloteren
5. English todayflutter

From Middle English floteren, from Old English floterian, flotorian (“to float about, flutter”), from Proto-Germanic *flutrōną, frequentative of Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), equivalent to float + -er (frequentative suffix). Cognate with West Frisian flodderje (“to flutter, beat”), Dutch flodderen (“to flutter, wave”), Low German fluttern, fluddern (“to flutter”), German flittern (“to sparkle, glitter”). More at float.

Words from the same roots