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Where does the word "goosebump" come from? It comes from Old English gōs, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
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Where does the word "goosebump" come from? It comes from Old English gōs, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).
Goosebump’s story begins in Old English: gōs meant “goose.” The goose. It reached English by 1900s as goose bump. The skin looks like a plucked goose's; French says 'chair de poule', hen's skin. Today, goosebump means a small bump on the skin caused by cold or fear.
- Stage 1 · Old English · 700s-1000s gōs "goose", the goose.
- Stage 2 · English · 1900s goose bump "bumpy skin", the skin looks like a plucked goose's; French says 'chair de poule', hen's skin.