Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A physical injury caused by heat, cold,...

Ancestry of “burn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbernenTo burn
2Old EnglishbirnanAlternative form of biernan; to burn
3Proto-West Germanicbrinnanto burn, to be on fire
4Proto-Germanicbrinnanąto burn, to be on fire
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrewh₁-to boil; to brew
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry

Words derived from “burn”

  • burning
  • burned
  • burnt
  • burner
  • Burnside
  • unburned
  • unburnt
  • burneth
  • afterburner
  • burningly
  • burnable
  • woodburning
  • heartburning
  • backburner
  • burnie
  • afterburning
  • burndown
  • postburn
  • afterburn
  • windburn
  • burnest
  • unburnable
  • windburned
  • unburn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- →