Where does “Ethernet” come from?
Ethernet is a modern English coinage combining ether and net, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European ned- meaning to bind or knot.
Ethernet (English): A computer network that complies with this set of...
Definitions
- A computer network that complies with this set of...
Ancestry of “Ethernet”, step by step
Ethernet traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Net
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Net | the Internet |
| 2 | Middle English | net | worthy, good, pure, fine, elegant |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | neit | good, desireable, clean |
| 4 | Old French | net | neat, decent |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | nittus | — |
| 6 | Latin | nitidus | shining, polished, glittering; handsome,... |
| 7 | Latin | nitere | second-person singular future active indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | niteo | I am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ney- | to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited |
| 10 | Cebuano | -hi | — |
via English Ether
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ether | The god-personification of the bright, glowing upper air of heaven. He is the Roman counterpart of Aether |
| 2 | Old French | ether | — |
| 3 | Latin | aethēr | sky, ether (distinct in this sense from caelum, which is where the night's stars are, but not always distinguished from āēr; always distinct from the underworld) |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Αἰθήρ | Upper Air |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | αἴθω | To ignite, kindle, light; To burn, blaze |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | *áitʰō | to ignite |