Where does “fairlead” come from?

fairlead (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.

fairlead (English): A device to guide a line, rope or cable around an...

Definitions

  1. A device to guide a line, rope or cable around an...

Ancestry of “fairlead”, step by step

fairlead traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English lead

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

via English fair

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfairBeautiful, of a pleasing appearance, with a pure...
2Middle Englishfayrfair
3Old Englishfæġerbeautiful
4Proto-West Germanicfagrbeautiful
5Proto-Germanicfagrazsuitable, fitting, appropriate, nice
6Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂ḱ-to fasten, place
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no-
fairlead — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer