whit

whit · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*wekti-“cause, sake, thing”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*wihtą“thing, creature”
3. Old English · inherited fromwiht“wight, person, creature, being, whit, thing, something, anything”
4. Middle English · inherited fromwiȝt
5. English todaywhit

From Middle English wiȝt, wight, from Old English wiht (“wight, person, creature, being, whit, thing, something, anything”), from Proto-Germanic *wihtą (“thing, creature”) or *wihtiz (“essence, object”), from Proto-Indo-European *wekti- (“cause, sake, thing”), from *wekʷ- (“to say, tell”). Cognate with Old High German wiht (“creature, thing”), Dutch wicht, German Wicht. Doublet of wight.

Whit · proper noun²

Shortening of the surname of Dick Whittington, London mayor who funded the rebuilding of the prison.

Words from the same roots