Where does “string” come from?

string (Dutch) comes from English string, from Middle English string, from Old English streng, from Proto-Germanic strangiz, from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ster- — sterile, infertile.

string (Dutch): G-string, thong; character string

Definitions

  1. G-string, thong; character string

Ancestry of “string”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstringA long, thin and flexible structure made from...
2Middle Englishstring
3Old Englishstrengstring
4Proto-Germanicstrangizstring
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
6Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster-Every word from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic strangiz