vomit
/ˈvɒmɪt/
verb
Origin
Latin
vomere — to spew, discharge, or vomit
Overview
Meaning Now
- To eject matter from the stomach through the mouth.
- To discharge contents violently or in large quantities.
Literal older meaning
To spew or cast forth.
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
vomyt
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The term is derived from the Latin 'vomere', which is related to the Greek 'emein' (to vomit), both stemming from the same Proto-Indo-European root. It entered the English language during the 15th century, likely through medical or scholastic Latin, as the more common Germanic term for the action was 'spew'.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*wemh₁-
“to spit, vomit”
Reconstructed root.
- Latin
vomere
“to vomit”
Infinitive form of the verb.
- Middle French
vomiter
“to vomit”
Adapted from Latin.
- Middle English
vomiten
“to vomit”
First recorded usage in English.
- Early Modern English
vomit
“to vomit”
Stabilized spelling.
Connections
Word parts
vomit
root
to spew
Related across languages
Greek
emein
to vomit
Sanskrit
vamati
he vomits
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.