English
scamper
Scamper may come from Dutch schamperen.
- Dutchc. 1500–presentschamperenuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1791scamper
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Dutchc. 1500–presentschamperenuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1791scamper
Earliest quotation: 1791, Notoriety: A Comedy: “[W]hy if you don't ſcamper, you'll be baſtil'd, before…”
first attested First attested in 1687 (as stated in the etymology)
The story
First attested in 1687.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kap- ‘head’
had, case, except, heavy, accept, receive, behavior, cash, catch, achieve, heavily, capacity, chase, capable, cable, reception, capture, occupation, haven, recipe, behave, recipient, perception, hawk, anticipation, anticipate, deception, chassis, caption, susceptible, captive, capsule, conceive, captivity, deceive, deceptive, deceit, cassette, conceivable, cater, 135 more
through Proto-Indo-European *káput ‘head’
through Proto-Italic *kaput ‘head’
capitalism, capitalize, capitan, capote, capitaine, 61 more
through Latin caput ‘head’
capital, captain, chapter, chef, cattle, capitol, precipitation, capita, mischief, cad, mischievous, chieftain, precipitate, capillary, occipital, precipitous, chattel, capo, caddie, capitulate, chabot, jefe, dishevelled, caput, cabochon, 68 more
through Latin cappa ‘cape, cloak’
cabin, chapel, cope, cape, chaplain, cabana, capa, capuchin, kaput, chaperon, 19 more
through Vulgar Latin *excappare ‘to escape’
Today it means
noun A quick, light run.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Dutch schamperen / scamper