Where does “burn” come from?
Burn comes from Middle English bernen, from Old English birnan, from Proto-Germanic brunnô and brinnaną, which derive from Proto-Indo-European bʰrew- and bʰer-.
burn (English): A physical injury caused by heat, cold,...
Definitions
- A physical injury caused by heat, cold,...
Ancestry of “burn”, step by step
burn traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English bernen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bernen | To burn |
| 2 | Old English | birnan | Alternative form of biernan; to burn |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | brinnan | to burn, to be on fire |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | brinnaną | to burn, to be on fire |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrewh₁- | to boil; to brew |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |
via Middle English birnen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | birnen | — |