Kitten
/ˈkɪtən/noun
A young cat.
Did you know?The English word ultimately comes through Old French *kiton*/*keton*, and the same kitten-root also survives in other European languages, showing how a baby-animal word can travel across borders for centuries.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kat-
“A root associated with cats or small cat-like creatures (reconstructed, not directly attested).”
Late Latin
Latin
cattus
“Cat.”
Old French
Old French
kiton / keton
“A young cat; kitten.”
Middle English
English
kitten
“A young cat.”
Modern English
English
kitten
“A young cat.”