Where does “len” come from?

len (Danish) comes from Middle Low German lēn, from Old Norse lén, from Middle Low German lehen, from Proto-Germanic laihną, from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- — to leave.

len (Danish): fief; entailed estate; county

Definitions

  1. fief; entailed estate; county

Ancestry of “len”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanlēn—
2Old Norselénfief, fee; royal grant or emoulement; royal...
3Middle Low Germanlehen—
4Proto-Germaniclaihnąthat which is lent, loan; fief
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleykʷ-to leave
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic laihną →Every word from Middle Low German lehen →