Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *sḗh₂l
Proto-Italic *sāls
Latin sāl
Pre-Greekder.?
Ancient Greek πέτρᾱ (pétrā)bor.
Latin petrae
Medieval Latin sāl petrae
Old French salpetrebor.
Middle English saltpetre
English (salt)peter?
Proto-Indo-European *pesd-
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *pésdeti
Proto-Italic *pezdō
Latin pēdō
Proto-Indo-European *-tósder.
Latin -ītum
Latin pēditum
Old French pet
Middle French pet
French pet
Proto-Italic *-āzi
▲
Latin -ereinflu.
Latin -āre
Old French -ier
Middle French -er
French -er
French péterbor.?
English peter
Unknown; the following etymologies have been suggested:
* From peter (“to stop (doing or saying something)”) (slang, obsolete, rare).
* Since the word was first used in mining contexts, either:
** from French péter (“to explode; to break wind, fart”) (slang), from pet (“emission of digestive gases from the anus, flatus, fart”) (slang), from Latin pēditum (“flatus, fart”), from pēdō (“to break wind, fart”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pesd- (“to break wind softly”), probably imitative; or
** from (salt)peter, a variant of saltpetre (“potassium nitrate”) (the key ingredient in gunpowder), from Middle English salpeter, salpetre [and other forms] with the first element influenced by salt, from Old French salpetre (modern French salpêtre), from Medieval Latin salpetra, from Latin sāl petrae (literally “salt of stone”) (as potassium nitrate occurs encrusted on some stones), from sāl (“salt”) + petrae (the nominative or vocative plural of petra (“rock; stone”), from Ancient Greek πέτρᾱ (pétrā, “rock formation; stone”)).
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
{
"templates": [
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":from<unc:1>",
"3": "saltpetre<alt:(salt)peter>",
"4": ":bor<unc:1>",
"5": "fr:péter",
"id": "diminish",
"tree": "1"
},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *sḗh₂l\nProto-Italic *sāls\nLatin sāl\nPre-Greekder.?\nAncient Greek πέτρᾱ (pétrā)bor.\nLatin petrae\nMedieval Latin sāl petrae\nOld French salpetrebor.\nMiddle English saltpetre\nEnglish (salt)peter?\nProto-Indo-European *pesd-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *pésdeti\nProto-Italic *pezdō\nLatin pēdō\nProto-Indo-European *-tósder.\nLatin -ītum\nLatin pēditum\nOld French pet\nMiddle French pet\nFrench pet\nProto-Italic *-āzi\n▲\nLatin -ereinflu.\nLatin -āre\nOld French -ier\nMiddle French -er\nFrench -er\nFrench péterbor.?\nEnglish peter\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*sḗh₂l\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*sāls\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"sāl\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"alt\" : \"petrae\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"lang_name\" : \"Pre-Greek\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang\" : \"qsb-grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"πέτρᾱ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"petra\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Medieval Latin\", \"term\" : \"sāl petrae\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"la-med\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"salpetre\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"saltpetre\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"saltpetre\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" }, { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"fart\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"fart\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*pesd-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-eti\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*pésdeti\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*pezdō\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"pēdō\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"alt\" : \"-ītum\", \"id\" : \"adjectival\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verbal adjectives\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tós\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ītus\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"pēditum\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"pet\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle French\", \"term\" : \"pet\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"frm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"French\", \"term\" : \"pet\", \"lang\" : \"fr\" }, { \"id\" : \"verbal\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verb\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"infinitive suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verb suffix\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verb suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"redlink\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*-āzi\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" }, { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"influ.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Influenced by\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"verb suffix\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-ere\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"influence\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"-āre\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"-ier\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle French\", \"term\" : \"-er\", \"lang\" : \"frm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"French\", \"term\" : \"-er\", \"lang\" : \"fr\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"French\", \"term\" : \"péter\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fr\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"peter\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"diminish\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"peter\" id=\"English:_diminish\">"
},
{
"name": "unknown",
"args": {
"1": "en"
},
"expansion": "Unknown"
},
{
"name": "root",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*pesd-"
},
"expansion": ""
},
{
"name": "qualifier",
"args": {
"1": "slang",
"2": "obsolete",
"3": "rare"
},
"expansion": "(slang, obsolete, rare)"
},
{
"name": "sup",
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹"
},
{
"name": "sup",
"args": {
"1": "2"
},
"expansion": "²"
},
{
"name": "sup",
"args": {
"1": "1"
},
"expansion": "¹"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "fr",
"3": "péter",
"t": "to explode; to break wind, fart"
},
"expansion": "French péter (“to explode; to break wind, fart”)"
},
{
"name": "qualifier",
"args": {
"1": "slang"
},
"expansion": "(slang)"
},
{
"name": "qualifier",
"args": {
"1": "slang"
},
"expansion": "(slang)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "pēditum",
"t": "flatus, fart"
},
"expansion": "Latin pēditum (“flatus, fart”)"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*pesd-",
"t": "to break wind softly"
},
"expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *pesd- (“to break wind softly”)"
},
{
"name": "glossary",
"args": {
"1": "imitative"
},
"expansion": "imitative"
},
{
"name": "inh",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "enm",
"3": "salpeter"
},
"expansion": "Middle English salpeter"
},
{
"name": "nb...",
"args": {
"1": "sallepeter, salpetur, salpetyr",
"otherforms": "1"
},
"expansion": "[and other forms]"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "fro",
"3": "salpetre"
},
"expansion": "Old French salpetre"
},
{
"name": "cog",
"args": {
"1": "fr",
"2": "salpêtre"
},
"expansion": "French salpêtre"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la-med",
"3": "salpetra"
},
"expansion": "Medieval Latin salpetra"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "la",
"3": "sāl petrae",
"lit": "salt of stone"
},
"expansion": "Latin sāl petrae (literally “salt of stone”)"
},
{
"name": "glossary",
"args": {
"1": "nominative"
},
"expansion": "nominative"
},
{
"name": "glossary",
"args": {
"1": "vocative"
},
"expansion": "vocative"
},
{
"name": "glossary",
"args": {
"1": "plural"
},
"expansion": "plural"
},
{
"name": "der",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": "grc",
"3": "πέτρᾱ",
"t": "rock formation; stone"
},
"expansion": "Ancient Greek πέτρᾱ (pétrā, “rock formation; stone”)"
},
{
"name": "ety",
"args": {
"1": "en",
"2": ":from<unc:1>",
"3": "saltpetre<alt:(salt)peter>",
"4": ":bor<unc:1>",
"5": "fr:péter",
"id": "diminish",
"tree": "1"
},
"expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *sḗh₂l\nProto-Italic *sāls\nLatin sāl\nPre-Greekder.?\nAncient Greek πέτρᾱ (pétrā)bor.\nLatin petrae\nMedieval Latin sāl petrae\nOld French salpetrebor.\nMiddle English saltpetre\nEnglish (salt)peter?\nProto-Indo-European *pesd-\nProto-Indo-European *-eti\nProto-Indo-European *pésdeti\nProto-Italic *pezdō\nLatin pēdō\nProto-Indo-European *-tósder.\nLatin -ītum\nLatin pēditum\nOld French pet\nMiddle French pet\nFrench pet\nProto-Italic *-āzi\n▲\nLatin -ereinflu.\nLatin -āre\nOld French -ier\nMiddle French -er\nFrench -er\nFrench péterbor.?\nEnglish peter"
}
],
"links": [
[
"*sḗh₂l",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/sḗh₂l"
],
[
"*sāls",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/sāls"
],
[
"sāl",
"sal#Latin"
],
[
"πέτρᾱ",
"πέτρα#Ancient_Greek"
],
[
"petrae",
"petra#Latin"
],
[
"sāl petrae",
"sal petrae#Latin"
],
[
"salpetre",
"salpetre#Old_French"
],
[
"saltpetre",
"saltpetre#Middle_English"
],
[
"(salt)peter",
"saltpetre#English"
],
[
"*pesd-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/pesd-"
],
[
"*-eti",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-eti"
],
[
"*pésdeti",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/pésdeti"
],
[
"*pezdō",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/pezdō"
],
[
"pēdō",
"pedo#Latin:_fart"
],
[
"*-tós",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/-tós#Proto-Indo-European:_verbal_adjectives"
],
[
"-ītum",
"-itus#Latin:_adjectival"
],
[
"pēditum",
"peditum#Latin"
],
[
"pet",
"pet#Old_French"
],
[
"pet",
"pet#Middle_French"
],
[
"pet",
"pet#French:_fart"
],
[
"*-āzi",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/-āzi#Proto-Italic:_verb_suffix"
],
[
"-ere",
"-ere#Latin:_verb_suffix"
],
[
"-āre",
"-are#Latin:_verb_suffix"
],
[
"-ier",
"-ier#Old_French:_infinitive_suffix"
],
[
"-er",
"-er#Middle_French:_verb"
],
[
"-er",
"-er#French:_verbal"
],
[
"péter",
"péter#French"
],
[
"peter",
"peter#English"
],
[
"péter",
"péter#French"
],
[
"pet",
"pet#French"
],
[
"pēditum",
"peditum#Latin"
],
[
"pēdō",
"pedo#Latin"
],
[
"*pesd-",
"Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/pesd-"
],
[
"(salt)peter",
"saltpeter#English"
],
[
"saltpetre",
"saltpetre#English"
],
[
"gunpowder",
"gunpowder"
],
[
"salpeter",
"salpeter#Middle_English"
],
[
"salpetre",
"salpetre#Middle_English"
],
[
"salt",
"salt#English"
],
[
"salpetre",
"salpetre#Old_French"
],
[
"salpêtre",
"salpêtre#French"
],
[
"salpetra",
"salpetra#Latin"
],
[
"sāl petrae",
"sal petrae#Latin"
],
[
"sāl",
"sal#Latin"
],
[
"petrae",
"petrae#Latin"
],
[
"petra",
"petra#Latin"
],
[
"πέτρᾱ",
"πέτρα#Ancient_Greek"
]
],
"references": [],
"descendants": [],
"lexical": [
{
"pos": "verb",
"glosses": [
"Chiefly followed by out: originally (mining), of a vein of ore: to be depleted of ore; now (generally), to diminish to nothing; to dwindle, to trail off."
],
"tags": [
"intransitive"
],
"recordId": "6776478f1b2bb8031afed9a255f4dd0a8ffa167050c0bc005d72cd0bcd0a425a",
"rawRecordSha256": "195f4a704236341d19117a836f3e1ba94288d66b3a4be7dfece6a2acbd01a59c",
"sourceRecordOrdinal": 338043
}
],
"omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
"templates": 0,
"links": 0,
"references": 0,
"descendants": 0,
"lexicalRecords": 0,
"lexicalSenses": 0,
"glosses": 0
}
}