Where does “not” come from?
not (Danish) comes from German Nut, from Middle High German nuot, from Old High German nuot, from Proto-Germanic hnōjaną, from Proto-Indo-European kneh₂- — to bite, to gnaw.
not (Danish): A groove; seine net; imperative of note
Definitions
- A groove; seine net; imperative of note
Ancestry of “not”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Nut | groove, slit, slot; rabbet; kerf |
| 2 | Middle High German | nuot | — |
| 3 | Old High German | nuot | groove |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hnōjaną | to smooth, join together |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kneh₂- | to bite, to gnaw |