• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Where does the word “newt” (eft) come from and How did the newt get its name?

Where does the word “newt” (eft) come from and How did the newt get its name?

February 19, 2020 by Karen Hill

Solvers of cross-word puzzles may sometimes wonder why newt and eft, such different words in appearance and sound, are apparently used interchangeably.

When is a newt an eft, they may ask. The answer is that a newt is an eft in the United States, sometimes, and in some sections of England, but the usual name of this curious little relative of the salamander is newt in both countries.

Actually even the names are one and the same. The ancient word was eff eta, in which the f was sometimes voiced and sometimes voiceless. When voiced, the spelling became changed to eveta.

Then, because the letters 7) and u were used interchangeably in writing, this word was often written eueta. The next change to ewte probably came about after the introduction of the letter w and through the fact that the combination ue (such as due) was usually pronounced like ew (dew).

At about that time also, just as with “nickname,” the n of an (in an ewte) was transferred in common speech to the word that followed, producing a newte, which eventually gave us newt.

While these changes were going on there were other lesser sections of England in which the original word was undergoing another modification. These were the sections in which the f of efeta was voiceless. In of the f is voiced; in often, voiceless.

In this speech the form of the word gradually changed into eft. For many years both newt and eft were used according to whim, many writers using both words to make sure that the reader would understand.

But gradually newt has become the more common form, eft becoming obsolescent.

Related Facts

  • What is the Difference between a Salamander and a Newt and how can you tell them Apart?
  • What is the difference between a newt and a salamander?
  • How Did Pepsi Get Its Name and Where Did the Name Pepsi Cola Come From?
  • How did America get its name and Where did the name America come from?
  • How did the fiddler crab get its name and Where did the name fiddler crab come from?
  • How Did the Chesapeake Bay Get Its Name and Where Does the Name "Chesapeake" Come From?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « How did the ottoman get its name and Where does the word “ottoman” come from?
Next Post: How did the word “pagan” (heathen) originate and What does pagan mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy