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

  1. A groove; seine net; imperative of note

Ancestry of “not”, step by step

not traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Nut

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanNutgroove, slit, slot; rabbet; kerf
2Middle High Germannuot—
3Old High Germannuotgroove
4Proto-Germanichnōjanąto smooth, join together
5Proto-Indo-Europeankneh₂-to bite, to gnaw

via Norwegian not

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegiannot—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kneh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hnōjaną →Every word from Old High German nuot →