Etymology
1. c.1380, "to strike out with the foot" (earliest in biblical phrase now usually rendered as
kick against the pricks), of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N.
kikna "bend backwards, sink at the knees." Fig. sense of "complain, protest, rebel against" (1388) probably is from the Bible verse. Slang sense of "die" is attested from 1725 (
kick the wind was slang for "be hanged," 1598; see also
bucket). Meaning "to end one's drug habit" is from 1936. To
kick oneself in self-reproach is from 1891. The noun is first recorded 1530. Meaning "recoil (of a gun) when fired" is from 1826. Meaning "surge or fit of pleasure" (often as
kicks) is from 1941; originally lit., "stimulation from liquor or drugs" (1844).
The kick "the fashion" is c.1700.
Kick-off is from 1857 as the first kick in a football match; fig. sense of "start, beginning event" is from 1875.
Kickback "illegal or improper payment" is from 1934.
Kickboxing first recorded 1971.
2. From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek. See: Middle English '
kyken', Dutch '
kijken'.
Verbs referencing "kick"
French
kicker, Swedish
kicka, Dutch
kicken, German, old spelling
kicken, Welsh
cicio, Dutch
kikken, Russian
кикнуть, Russian
кикать.