itsy bitsy etymology

Etymology:

  • "Itsy" is a diminutive form of "itty," which is itself a variant of "little."
  • "Bitsy" is a diminutive form of "bit," which means a small piece or fragment.

Meaning:

"Itsy bitsy" is an informal adjective that means "very small or tiny." It is often used in a playful or affectionate way to describe something that is small and insignificant.

Origin:

The exact origin of "itsy bitsy" is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the late 19th century. It first appeared in print in 1881 in a children's book called "The Nursery" by Charles F. Jenkins.

The word "itsy" may have been influenced by the Yiddish word "itsche," which also means "small." The word "bitsy" may have been influenced by the German word "bitte," which means "please."

Examples:

  • "The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout."
  • "I have an itsy bitsy scratch on my finger."
  • "The itsy bitsy details of the plan were not clear to me."

itsy bitsy relate terms

  • bitsy

    Etymology The word bitsy is a diminutive form of bit which is a small piece or amou

  • bitty

    Etymology Bitty is an informal adjective that originated in the 19th century in the Uni

  • itty

    Etymology The word itty is a colloquial term that emerged in the early 1900s It is be

  • little

    Etymology Little is from Middle English litel which is from Old English lytel mean

  • itsy bitsy

    Etymology Itsy is a diminutive form of itty which is itself a variant of little

  • little

    Etymology Little is from Middle English litel which is from Old English lytel mean

  • duplicity

    Etymology Duplicity is derived from the Latin word duplex meaning double or two

  • eminent

    Etymology Latin eminēre to stand out project Proto Indo European men to thin

  • martyr

    Etymology The word martyr originates from the Greek word μάρτυς martys whic

  • addiction

    Etymology The word addiction is derived from the Latin word addictio which means s

  • Titan

    Etymology French Titane Greek Τιτάν Titán Meaning Giant or powerful b

  • bedlam

    Etymology The word bedlam derives from the name of the mental hospital in London Bethl

  • guilt

    Etymology Old English gylt crime sin Proto Germanic gultiz debt guilt Proto Indo