kitten (English)
Where does "kitten" come from?
The English word 'kitten' traces its roots back to the Middle English 'kitoun', a term of somewhat obscure, likely Anglo-Norman origin. It is closely related to the Old French 'chitoun' and modern French 'chaton', appearing as a diminutive form of the word for 'cat'. While scholars occasionally debate a potential influence from Germanic roots like 'kitling', the word is primarily recognized as an evolved descendant of these continental Romance forms.
Full etymology tree
- kitten (English), 'A young cat, especially before sexual maturity (reached at about seven months).'
- inherited kitoun (Middle English), 'kitten'
- borrowed chitoun (Old French)
- suffix chat (Old French), 'cat (animal)'
- inherited cattus (Latin), 'a cat'
- suffix chat (Old French), 'cat (animal)'
- borrowed chitoun (Old French)
- inherited kitoun (Middle English), 'kitten'
Direct ancestors
- kitoun (Middle English)
- chaton (French)
- kitling (English)
- kettlingur (Icelandic)
- chitte (Middle English)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris