fart (English)
Where does "fart" come from?
The word 'fart' has ancient roots, descending from the Proto-Indo-European root *perd-, which was used to describe the act of breaking wind. This term evolved through Proto-Germanic and Old English as *feortan before becoming the Middle English 'farten'. Over centuries, the word transitioned from a simple verb for a biological function to the noun 'fart' used in modern English, occasionally being repurposed as a colorful insult for an irritating person.
Full etymology tree
- fart (English), 'An emission of digestive gases from the anus; a flatus.'
- inherited ferten (Middle English)
- inherited *feortan (Old English), 'to fart'
- inherited *fertan (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited *fertaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to break wind, fart'
- inherited *perd- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to fart loudly, pass gas, break wind'
- inherited *fertaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to break wind, fart'
- inherited *fertan (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited *feortan (Old English), 'to fart'
- inherited fart (Middle English), 'fart'
- derived ferten (Middle English)
- inherited *feortan (Old English), 'to fart'
- inherited *fertan (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited *fertaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to break wind, fart'
- inherited *perd- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to fart loudly, pass gas, break wind'
- inherited *fertaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to break wind, fart'
- inherited *fertan (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited *feortan (Old English), 'to fart'
- derived ferten (Middle English)
- inherited ferten (Middle English)
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris