English
guest
Guest comes from Middle English gest ‘a guest’, from Old Norse gestr, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *gastiz ‘stranger’.
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gastiz‘stranger’reconstructed
- Proto-Norsec. 200–800 CEsame formreconstructed
- Old Norsec. 800–1350gestr
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gest‘a guest’
- Englishearliest quotation 1608guest
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*gastiz‘stranger’reconstructed
- Proto-Norsec. 200–800 CEsame formreconstructed
- Old Norsec. 800–1350gestr
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gest‘a guest’
- Englishearliest quotation 1608guest
Earliest quotation: 1608, Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, Du Bartas His Deuine Weekes and Workes […]: “Two Angels sent Two Heav'nly Scowts the Lord to…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰes- ‘to eat’
through Proto-Indo-European *gʰóstis ‘stranger, guest’
Today it means
noun A recipient of hospitality, especially someone staying by invitation at the house of another.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Germanic *gastiz / guest