English
chirp
Chirp comes from Middle English *chirpen.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*chirpenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1886chirp
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500*chirpenreconstructed
- Englishearliest quotation 1886chirp
Earliest quotation: 1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Folk and Fairy Tales: “Well, I suppose you didn't come out of the…”
The story
From Middle English *chirpen (attested only in the derivative Middle English chirpinge, cyrpynge, chyrypynge (‘chirping’).
Every English word from Middle English *chirpen
Today it means
noun A short, sharp or high note or noise, as of a bird or insect.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English *chirpen / chirp