Etymologically
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grandma

Etymology and origin of the English word grandma

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Clipping
First attested
1772

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈɡɹænmɑː/, /ˈɡɹænmə/[1]

Etymology

It is a shortening of grandmama (1749), a childish or familiar form of grandmother, from grand- and mama.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

One's grandmother: 1772 in HTOED, 1793 in Etymonline, 1867 in MWU.[4][2][5]

Semantic evolution

It is also used as a familiar form of address to a grandmother or to an elderly woman,[4] and Chambers gives the sense an old woman.[6] In American slang from 1941, grandma, or grandma gear, is the lowest gear of a vehicle, from the image of a slow-driving grandmother.[7]

Timeline

  • 1749 – grandmama.[2]
  • 1772 – grandma.[4]
  • 1941 – the lowest gear (US slang).[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. (informal) A grandmother.
  2. (informal) An old woman.
  3. (US slang) The lowest gear of a vehicle.

Word family

  • grammy

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Collins English Dictionary (2023), Glasgow: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ The Chambers Dictionary (2008), 11th ed., Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap
  7. ^ a b Green, Jonathon (2010), Green's Dictionary of Slang, London: Chambers; digital ed. 2016–, https://greensdictofslang.com
Cite this entry

“Grandma.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/grandma. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·