*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of bot

Unknown. Possibly a modification of Scottish Gaelic boiteag (“maggot”), but the word already existed in Middle English, so the reverse direction of borrowing is likely. Possibly from Middle Low German [Term?].

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 3 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 ↗
noun

The larva of a botfly, which infests the skin of various mammals, producing warbles, or the nasal passage of sheep, or the stomach of horses.

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

Unknown. Possibly a modification of Scottish Gaelic boiteag (“maggot”), but the word already existed in Middle English, so the reverse direction of borrowing is likely. Possibly from Middle Low German [Term?].

Relationships mentioned by the source

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

Inspect preserved source fields

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

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "id": "larva"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "unk",
      "args": {
        "1": "en"
      },
      "expansion": "Unknown"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gd",
        "3": "boiteag",
        "4": "",
        "5": "maggot"
      },
      "expansion": "Scottish Gaelic boiteag (“maggot”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gml",
        "3": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Middle Low German [Term?]"
    },
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        "id": "larva"
      },
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    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "boiteag",
      "boiteag#Scottish_Gaelic"
    ]
  ],
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  "lexical": [
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      "pos": "noun",
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        "The larva of a botfly, which infests the skin of various mammals, producing warbles, or the nasal passage of sheep, or the stomach of horses."
      ],
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
verb

To bugger. · To ask for and be given something with the direct intention of exploiting the thing’s usefulness, almost exclusively with cigarettes.

noun

The bottom or backside.

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

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ-? Proto-Indo-European *-mḗn Proto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗn Proto-Germanic *butmaz Proto-West Germanic *botm Old English botm Middle English botme English bottomclip. English bot From bottom.

Inspect preserved source fields

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

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":clipping",
        "3": "bottom",
        "id": "bottom",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ-?\nProto-Indo-European *-mḗn\nProto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗn\nProto-Germanic *butmaz\nProto-West Germanic *botm\nOld English botm\nMiddle English botme\nEnglish bottomclip.\nEnglish bot\n[Appendix:Glossary#clipping|Clipping]] of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"bottom\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"bottom\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"bottom\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dʰewbʰ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-mḗn\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*bʰudʰmḗn\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*butmaz\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*botm\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"botm\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"botme\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"bottom\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"clipping\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"bot\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"bottom\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"bot\" id=\"English:_bottom\">"
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":clipping",
        "3": "bottom",
        "id": "bottom",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ-?\nProto-Indo-European *-mḗn\nProto-Indo-European *bʰudʰmḗn\nProto-Germanic *butmaz\nProto-West Germanic *botm\nOld English botm\nMiddle English botme\nEnglish bottomclip.\nEnglish bot"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "*dʰewbʰ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dʰewbʰ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-mḗn",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-mḗn"
    ],
    [
      "*bʰudʰmḗn",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/bʰudʰmḗn"
    ],
    [
      "*butmaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/butmaz#Proto-Germanic:_bottom"
    ],
    [
      "*botm",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/botm"
    ],
    [
      "botm",
      "botm#Old_English:_bottom"
    ],
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      "botme",
      "botme#Middle_English:_bottom"
    ],
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      "bottom",
      "bottom#English"
    ],
    [
      "bottom",
      "bottom#English"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "verb",
      "glosses": [
        "To bugger.",
        "To ask for and be given something with the direct intention of exploiting the thing’s usefulness, almost exclusively with cigarettes."
      ],
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        "UK",
        "slang",
        "Australia",
        "informal"
      ],
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      ],
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        "slang"
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
verb

To use a bot, or automated program.

noun

A physical robot. · A piece of software designed to perform a task (often a minor but repetitive one) automatically or on command, especially when operating with the appearance of a (human) user profile or account. · A computer-controlled character in a video game, especially a multiplayer one. · A supremely unskilled player.

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

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos Proto-Balto-Slavic *árbas Proto-Slavic *orbъ Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Balto-Slavic *-éitei Proto-Slavic *-iti Proto-Slavic *orbiti Proto-Indo-European *-otéh₂ Proto-Balto-Slavic *-atā́ˀ Proto-Slavic *-ota Proto-Slavic *orbota Old Czech robota Czech robota Czech robotbor. English robotclip. English bot Clipping of robot.

This page abbreviates 1 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

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

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "etymon",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":clipping",
        "3": "en:robot<id:Q11012>",
        "id": "robot",
        "tree": "+",
        "text": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-os\nProto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos\nProto-Balto-Slavic *árbas\nProto-Slavic *orbъ\nProto-Indo-European *-yeti\nProto-Indo-European *-éyeti\nProto-Balto-Slavic *-éitei\nProto-Slavic *-iti\nProto-Slavic *orbiti\nProto-Indo-European *-otéh₂\nProto-Balto-Slavic *-atā́ˀ\nProto-Slavic *-ota\nProto-Slavic *orbota\nOld Czech robota\nCzech robota\nCzech robotbor.\nEnglish robotclip.\nEnglish bot\n[Appendix:Glossary#clipping|Clipping]] of\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"Q11012\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"Q11012\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"serfdom\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"work\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"work\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"to work\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"servant\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"servant\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"servant\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₃erbʰ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"thematic\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-os\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₃órbʰos\", \"gloss\" : \"(indentured) worker, servant, slave; orphan; (originally) one who has changed in ‘ownership’ or affiliation\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Balto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*árbas\", \"lang\" : \"ine-bsl-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*orbъ\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"causative suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"forming verbs\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-yeti\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-éyeti\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Balto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*-éitei\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-bsl-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*-iti\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*orbiti\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"abstract noun suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"abstract noun suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-otéh₂\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Balto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*-atā́ˀ\", \"lang\" : \"ine-bsl-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*-ota\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*orbota\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"is_duplicate\" : true, \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : { \"1\" : \"sla-pro\", \"2\" : \":af\", \"3\" : \"*orbъ<id:servant>\", \"4\" : \"*-iti<id:causative suffix>\", \"id\" : \"to work\" }, \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Slavic\", \"term\" : \"*orbiti\", \"lang\" : \"sla-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Czech\", \"term\" : \"robiti\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"zlw-ocs\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old Czech\", \"term\" : \"-ota\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"zlw-ocs\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"By surface analysis,\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\", \"is_invisible\" : \"tree\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old Czech\", \"term\" : \"robota\", \"lang\" : \"zlw-ocs\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Czech\", \"term\" : \"robota\", \"gloss\" : \"drudgery, servitude\", \"lang\" : \"cs\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Czech\", \"term\" : \"robot\", \"lang\" : \"cs\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"robot\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"clipping\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"bot\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"robot\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"bot\" id=\"English:_robot\">\nClipping of robot."
    },
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        "2": ":clipping",
        "3": "en:robot<id:Q11012>",
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        "tree": "+",
        "text": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₃erbʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-os\nProto-Indo-European *h₃órbʰos\nProto-Balto-Slavic *árbas\nProto-Slavic *orbъ\nProto-Indo-European *-yeti\nProto-Indo-European *-éyeti\nProto-Balto-Slavic *-éitei\nProto-Slavic *-iti\nProto-Slavic *orbiti\nProto-Indo-European *-otéh₂\nProto-Balto-Slavic *-atā́ˀ\nProto-Slavic *-ota\nProto-Slavic *orbota\nOld Czech robota\nCzech robota\nCzech robotbor.\nEnglish robotclip.\nEnglish bot\nClipping of robot."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "*h₃erbʰ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₃erbʰ-"
    ],
    [
      "*-os",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-os#Proto-Indo-European:_thematic"
    ],
    [
      "*h₃órbʰos",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/h₃órbʰos#Proto-Indo-European:_servant"
    ],
    [
      "*árbas",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/árbas#Proto-Balto-Slavic:_servant"
    ],
    [
      "*orbъ",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/orbъ#Proto-Slavic:_servant"
    ],
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      "*-yeti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-yeti#Proto-Indo-European:_forming_verbs"
    ],
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      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-éyeti"
    ],
    [
      "*-éitei",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/-éitei"
    ],
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      "*-iti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-iti#Proto-Slavic:_causative_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "*orbiti",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/orbiti#Proto-Slavic:_to_work"
    ],
    [
      "*-otéh₂",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-otéh₂"
    ],
    [
      "*-atā́ˀ",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/-atā́ˀ#Proto-Balto-Slavic:_abstract_noun_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "*-ota",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/-ota#Proto-Slavic:_abstract_noun_suffix"
    ],
    [
      "*orbota",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/orbota#Proto-Slavic:_work"
    ],
    [
      "robota",
      "robota#Old_Czech:_work"
    ],
    [
      "robota",
      "robota#Czech:_serfdom"
    ],
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      "robot",
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    ],
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      "robot",
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    ],
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    ]
  ],
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      "pos": "verb",
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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 bot →

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-Ym90