The English Oracle

How did 'fast' shift semantically from 'firm' to 'quick'?

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00:00 How Did 'Fast' Shift Semantically From 'Firm' To 'Quick'?
00:22 Accepted Answer Score 2
01:15 Thank you

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ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 2


The origin of fast meaning quickly, rapidly etc. was already present in OE and appears to derive from a Scandinavian usage:

  • The meaning "quickly, swiftly, rapidly" was perhaps in Old English, certainly by c. 1200, probably from or developed under influence of Old Norse fast "firmly, fast."

  • This sense developed, apparently in Scandinavian, from that of "firmly, strongly, vigorously" (to run hard means the same as to run fast; also compare fast asleep, also compare Old Norse drekka fast "to drink hard," telja fast "to give (someone) a severe lesson").

  • Or perhaps from the notion of a runner who "sticks" close to whatever he is chasing (compare Old Danish fast "much, swiftly, at once, near to, almost," and sense evolution of German fix "fast, fixed; fast, quick, nimble," from Latin fixus).

(Etymonline)