835: nasty, nest, and nether Mar 22, 2017

There are a number of etymologies that are still unknown, but usually even if there isn't a consensus, there will still be some reasonable theories. 'Nasty' for example, is considered to have unknown origins, but since it is an adjective that ends in '-y', it would be fair to guess that there is a noun, 'nast', or something similar out there. While there is no English word nast—though one could be formed from back-formation—one theory suggests that the word 'nest' may be related. 'Nest' comes from Old English but it is related to many other words from an Indo-European root meaning ‘down’ and also 'sit'. This root also gave English the word, 'nether'—explored in more depth here—meaning 'low'. 'Nether' is on its own does not relate necessarily to filth or moral impurity as seen in 'Netherlands' simply meaning 'low-lands' as it merely denotes the flatness of the area compared to southern Germany. However, as 'nether' is also found in 'nether-regions', essentially a kenning for 'genitals', or Chaucer's famous line about "nether [e]ye" meaning 'anus', it would not be too far of a conceptual leap to get to 'nasty' from the same base as from where 'nest' originates.