Where does “outlet” come from?

outlet (Chinese) comes from English outlet, from English let, from Middle English leten, from Old English lǣtan, from Proto-West Germanic lātan, from Proto-Germanic lētaną, from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- — to be tired.

outlet (Chinese): outlet mall; a mall with outlet shops especially in tourist areas

Definitions

  1. outlet mall; a mall with outlet shops especially in tourist areas

Ancestry of “outlet”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoutletA vent or similar passage to allow the escape of...
2EnglishletTo allow to, not to prevent; To leave; To allow...
3Middle Englishletento let
4Old Englishlǣtanto let; leave; to let go, leave; to allow, let...
5Proto-West Germaniclātanto let, to allow; to leave alone
6Proto-Germaniclētanąto let, to allow; to leave alone
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₁d-to be tired
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d-
outlet — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer