ass
/æs/
noun
Origin
Latin
asinus — donkey
Overview
Meaning Now
- A domesticated member of the horse family, Equus asinus, typically smaller than a horse with long ears; a donkey.
- A stupid, foolish, or stubborn person.
Literal older meaning
donkey
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Latin → Old English → English
Earliest form
assa
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The term originated as a name for the donkey, derived from Latin 'asinus'. In Middle English, the word became a common metaphor for obstinacy or foolishness. Note: 'Ass' meaning buttocks is historically a completely separate word derived from the Old English 'ears' (arse), which underwent metathesis and subsequent phonetic reduction, eventually merging in pronunciation in many American English dialects.
Evolution
- Latin
asinus
“donkey”
- Old English
assa
“donkey”
Borrowed into Germanic via colloquial Latin
- Middle English
asse
“donkey”
- Modern English
ass
“donkey; fool”
Metaphorical extension to human character
Connections
Word parts
ass
root
donkey
Related across languages
Dutch
ezel
donkey
German
Esel
donkey
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Related to ass
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.