Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Cathayan” come from?

Cathayan (English) comes from English ān, from Middle English ān, from Old English ān, from Proto-West Germanic ain, from Proto-Germanic ainaz, from Proto-Indo-European óynos — one; single.

Cathayan (English): A native or inhabitant of Cathay, or China

Definitions

  1. A native or inhabitant of Cathay, or China

Ancestry of “Cathayan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishān—
2Middle Englishān—
3Old Englishānlonely; entirely alone, solitary, single; one
4Proto-West Germanicainone
5Proto-Germanicainazone; some
6Proto-Indo-Europeanóynosone; single
Every word from Proto-Indo-European óynos →