Etymology Map
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Fish

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a cold-blooded animal living in water, with gills and fins

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

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

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.