snout

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*snūtaz
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*snūt
3. Middle Low German · derived fromsnûte
4. Old English · inherited from*snūt
5. Middle English · inherited fromsnowte
6. English todaysnout

From Middle English snowte, snout, snute, from Old English *snūt, *snūte or Middle Low German snûte, from Proto-West Germanic *snūt, from Proto-Germanic *snūtaz. Compare Saterland Frisian Snuute (“snout”), West Frisian snút (“snout”), Dutch snuit or snoet (“snout; cute face”), German Low German Snuut (“snout”), German Schnauze, Schnute (“snout”). Doublet of snoot.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• First attested in 1387. The front of the prow of a ship or boat.