Where does “brain” come from?

Brain derives from Middle English brayn, from Proto-Germanic bragną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European men-, a root associated with thinking and mental processes.

brain (English): The control center of the central nervous system...

Definitions

  1. The control center of the central nervous system...

Ancestry of “brain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbraynThe brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;...
2Old Englishbræġnbrain
3Proto-West Germanic*bragnbrain
4Proto-Germanicbragnąbrain
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmregʰnomskull, brain
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

Words derived from “brain”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →