stepmother

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*steupamōdēr“stepmother”
2. Old English · inherited fromstēopmōdor
3. Middle English · inherited fromstepmoder
4. English todaystepmother

From Middle English stepmoder, from Old English stēopmōdor, from Proto-Germanic *steupamōdēr (“stepmother”), corresponding to step- + mother. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Stäifmuur (“stepmother”), Dutch stiefmoeder (“stepmother”), German Low German Steevmoder (“stepmother”), German Stiefmutter (“stepmother”), Danish stedmor (“stepmother”), Swedish styvmor (“stepmother”), Icelandic stjúpmóðir (“stepmother”). Compare also West Frisian styfmem (“stepmother”).

First known use, by meaning

• from 1567 An animal, typically a bird, who raises the offspring of another animal.
• from 1828 A viola, especially Viola tricolor, heartsease.