fish

Where does the word "fish" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic fiskaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Fish’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: fiskaz meant “fish.” Cognate with Latin 'piscis' by Grimm's law. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as fisc. The 'sc' sound became 'sh' in Middle English. It reached English by 1500s as fish. Fish and chips became a British working-class staple in the 1860s. Today, fish means a cold-blooded animal living in water, with gills and fins.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient fiskaz "fish", cognate with Latin 'piscis' by Grimm's law.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s fisc "fish", the 'sc' sound became 'sh' in Middle English.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s fish "fish", fish and chips became a British working-class staple in the 1860s.