English
pet
Pet comes from Scots pet, probably from Scottish Gaelic peata, from Middle Irish petta ‘pet, lap-dog’, of uncertain origin.
- Middle Irishc. 900–1200petta‘pet, lap-dog’
- Scottish Gaelicmodernpeata‘pet, tamed animal’uncertain
- Scotsc. 1450–presentpet‘tamed animal; darling’
- Englishearliest quotation 1623same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Irishc. 900–1200petta‘pet, lap-dog’
- Scottish Gaelicmodernpeata‘pet, tamed animal’uncertain
- Scotsc. 1450–presentpet‘tamed animal; darling’
- Englishearliest quotation 1623same form
Earliest quotation: 1623, Owen Feltham, Resolves: Divine: “He sure is queasie stomach't that must pet, and…”
Every English word from Middle Irish petta
Today it means
noun An animal kept as a companion or otherwise for pleasure, rather than for some practical benefit or use.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle Irish petta / pet