Spooning
/ˈspuːnɪŋ/noun
The act of cuddling side-by-side with one person behind the other, or the act of using a spoon.
Did you know?The word ultimately traces back to a Germanic root meaning a chip or splinter of wood, which is why the everyday spoon was originally named for its carved shape rather than any magical meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*spe-
“to cut, split, or chip”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*spenu-
“a chip, splinter, or spoon-like piece of wood”
Old English
English
spōn
“a chip, splinter, or shaving of wood; later, a spoon”
Middle English
English
spone
“a spoon”
Modern English
English
spooning
“using a spoon; also cuddling side-by-side in a spoon-like position”