Fat
/fæt/noun
A soft, greasy substance in the bodies of animals and in some plants, or having too much body fat.
Did you know?English fat comes from a Germanic root meaning “to stuff” or “fill,” which is why its ancient relatives are tied to the idea of being richly loaded rather than just “heavy.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to feed, graze, or give pasture”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*fataz
“fat, plump”
Old English
English
fǣtt
“fat, rich, fertile”
Middle English
English
fat
“fat, greasy, rich”
Modern English
English
fat
“soft greasy tissue; overweight”