English
git
Git comes from Middle English get ‘illegitimate offspring’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500get‘illegitimate offspring’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968git
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history not traced here.
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500get‘illegitimate offspring’
- Englishearliest quotation 1968git
Earliest quotation: 1968, I'm So Tired: “Although I'm so tired, I'll have another cigarette /…”
The story
A southern variant of Scots get (‘illegitimate child, brat’), related to beget.
Linked words
through Middle English get ‘illegitimate offspring’
Today it means
noun A silly, incompetent, stupid, or annoying person (usually a man).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English get / git