Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blacklead” come from?

blacklead (English) comes from English lead, from Middle English leden, from Old English lēoden, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.

blacklead (English): To cover, treat or polish with graphite;...

Definitions

  1. To cover, treat or polish with graphite;...

Ancestry of “blacklead”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishleadA heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having...
2Middle Englishledento lead; to carry, take, bring; to put, place,...
3Old Englishlēodennational or popular language; national language;...
4Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
5Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
6Proto-Norse-īna-—
7Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
8Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
9Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no- →