Coltish
/ˈkoʊl.tɪʃ/noun
Resembling a young horse in awkward, energetic, or playful behavior.
Did you know?Coltish comes from the same Old English root as colt, and the word preserves the ancient idea of a young horse that is lively, clumsy, and not yet fully trained.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*kultaz
“young horse; colt”
Old English
OE
colt
“young horse, foal, or young ass”
Middle English
ME
coltish
“like a colt; frisky, awkward, untrained”
Modern English
English
coltish
“awkwardly lively, playful, or youthful in manner”