Nest Means Sitting Down, Literally
A nest is a structure built for eggs or young. The word's parts spell out what happens there.
A nest is a structure made by a bird or other animal for laying eggs and raising young, and by extension any snug retreat. The word breaks down neatly in its ancient parts: a prefix meaning down and a root meaning to sit, so a nest is literally a place of sitting down. The same root gives *sit* itself, and the prefix survives in *nether*, meaning lower. The largest bird nests, built by bald eagles over many seasons, can weigh more than a tonne.
- A bird's home. *A bird's nest.*
- A snug place. *A nest of cushions.*
- To fit inside. *Nesting tables.*
- Nest egg. *A nest egg.*
- Old English — *nest*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | nest | A nest. |
| Verb | nest | Nesting. |
| Compound | nest egg | A nest egg. |
| Related | nestle | To nestle. |
| Latin | nidus | A nest. |
- The robin built a nest.Birds.
- Nesting tables stack neatly.Furniture.
- It means a sitting-down place.Etymology.
Where a nest egg comes from
- Farmers left one egg in a nest to encourage more laying
- Sometimes a fake egg of pottery or china was used
- The idea was that a hen would keep returning
- A nest egg of money works the same way
- The phrase is recorded from the 1600s
Old English *nest*, from a Proto-Indo-European compound meaning down plus sit, related to Latin *nidus*.
What does nest literally mean?
A place of sitting down, from ancient elements meaning down and to sit.
Where does nest egg come from?
From the farm practice of leaving one egg in a nest to encourage a hen to keep laying there.