English word origin

Etymology of -icle

From a back-formation of icicle, the second element of which ultimately from Old English ġicel (“icicle, ice”). More at icicle, ickle.

2 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

suffix

Alternative form of -sicle.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From a back-formation of icicle, the second element of which ultimately from Old English ġicel (“icicle, ice”). More at icicle, ickle.

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mentionġicelang · icicle, ice

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ġicel",
        "t": "icicle, ice"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ġicel (“icicle, ice”)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "icicle",
      "icicle#English"
    ],
    [
      "ġicel",
      "gicel#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "icicle",
      "icicle#English"
    ],
    [
      "ickle",
      "ickle#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "suffix",
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of -sicle."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative",
        "morpheme",
        "rare"
      ],
      "recordId": "f0c5e310ff96607883baf5ae3f97ea2c55a17f6df011ebbc080770ddd43698b8",
      "rawRecordSha256": "c4f6f7d19398ab2516985c65309d118aa35429a95eff8141f728db007cf1bd81",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 266121
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

suffix

Used to form diminutive nouns.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Latin -culus (diminutive suffix).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Derivation mention-culusla

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "-culus",
        "pos": "diminutive suffix"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin -culus (diminutive suffix)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "-culus",
      "-culus#Latin"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "suffix",
      "glosses": [
        "Used to form diminutive nouns."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "diminutive",
        "morpheme",
        "uncommon"
      ],
      "recordId": "f812734453f32999e77796a23aaf3d7c3bbcfa729d4fe6d257a52ed67594796d",
      "rawRecordSha256": "e08034ae43d6125570c86e069982bfd7c08be07b1a43a688e66169cd370ecaa1",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 266122
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}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for -icle →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-LWljbGU