Where does “forelimb” come from?

Forelimb comes from English fore- and limb, which derives from Latin limbus, tracing back through Proto-Germanic līmaz to Proto-Indo-European (s)lembʰ-.

forelimb (English): The anterior limb of an animal

Definitions

  1. The anterior limb of an animal

Ancestry of “forelimb”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishfore-Positioned at or near the front; Before; ahead or...
2EnglishForeA people of Papua New Guinea
3GermanFahr—
4GermanFähreferry
5Middle High Germanverren—
6Old High Germanferranafrom afar
7Old High Germanferroafar; skipper
8Proto-West Germanic*ferrō—
9Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
10Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy →