Where does “” come from?

基 (Chinese) comes from English gay, from Middle English gay, from Old French gai, from Old Occitan gai, from Proto-Germanic ganhuz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- — to walk; to step.

Ancestry of “”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgayHappy, joyful, and lively; Quick, fast; Festive,...
2Middle Englishgayjoyous, merry
3Old Frenchgaihappy; cheerful; gay
4Old Occitangaihappy; joyous
5Proto-Germanicganhuzfast, quick
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰengʰ-to walk; to step
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic ganhuzEvery word from Old Occitan gai