Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “awny” come from?

awny (English) comes from English awn, from Middle English awne, from Old Norse ógn, from Old Norse agn, from Proto-Germanic aganą, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₂ógʰe, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵʰ- — cow.

awny (English): Having awns; bearded, bristly

Definitions

  1. Having awns; bearded, bristly

Ancestry of “awny”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishawnThe bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses,...
2Middle Englishawne—
3Old Norseógnterror, threat, dispute
4Old Norseagnbait
5Proto-Germanicaganąto fear, to be afraid
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₂ógʰeto be upset, afraid
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵʰ-cow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵʰ- →