Grandchild
/ˈɡrændˌtʃaɪld/noun
A child of one’s son or daughter.
Did you know?Grandchild is a straightforward kinship term, but its first element comes from the same ancient root as grand, meaning “large” or “great,” showing how languages often mark generations with size and status.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵr̥h₂nós
“grasped, great, or large”
Old French
OF
grant
“large, great”
Old English
OE
grand-
“great, large; used in kinship terms for a more remote generation”
Middle English
ME
graundchild
“grandchild; a child of one’s child”
Modern English
English
grandchild
“the child of one’s son or daughter”
Explore more surprising origins