spin-off
/ˈspɪnɒf/
noun
Origin
English
spin + off — To rotate rapidly and subsequently depart or separate.
Overview
Meaning Now
- A product, program, or enterprise that is derived from a larger, pre-existing one.
- A secondary benefit or development resulting from an original project or research.
Language path
Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
spin-off
Earliest period
mid-20th century
Journey
The term originated in the mid-20th century, heavily influenced by corporate business practices and the entertainment industry. It metaphorically describes the process where a smaller unit is 'spun' away from a larger entity while retaining the connection to the original, much like a particle flying off a spinning object.
Evolution
- Old English
spinnan
“to spin, draw out fibers”
- Middle English
spinnen
“to rotate or weave”
- 19th century
spin off
“physical separation by rotation”
Used in mechanical contexts.
- 1950s
spin-off
“by-product of a primary enterprise”
First recorded in broadcasting and corporate business.
Connections
Word parts
spin
root
to turn or draw out
off
suffix
away from
Related across languages
German
spinnen
to spin
Dutch
spinnen
to spin
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Related to spin-off
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.