Where does “clewline” come from?

clewline (English) comes from English line, from Middle English line, from Old English līne, from Proto-West Germanic *līnā, from Proto-Germanic līnǭ, from Proto-Germanic līną, from Proto-Indo-European līno- — flax.

clewline (English): Outermost of the ropes with which a square sail...

Definitions

  1. Outermost of the ropes with which a square sail...

Ancestry of “clewline”, step by step

clewline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English line

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlineA path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight
2Middle Englishlinerope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,...
3Old Englishlīneline, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,...
4Proto-West Germanic*līnāline, chord, rope, string
5Proto-Germaniclīnǭthat which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,...
6Proto-Germaniclīnąflax
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlīno-flax

via English clew

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclewA roughly spherical mass or body; A ball of...
2Middle EnglishclewAlternative form of clewe
3Old Englishclēowen
4Proto-Germanickliuwiną
5Proto-Indo-Europeanglew-Alternative form of *gley-; to amass,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līno-