Where does “gleam” come from?

Gleam comes from Middle English gleme, from Old English glæm, from Proto-Germanic glaimiz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰley-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel-.

gleam (English): A small or indistinct shaft or stream of light; A...

Definitions

  1. A small or indistinct shaft or stream of light; A...

Ancestry of “gleam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishglem—
2Old Englishglæmgleam
3Proto-Germanicglaimizbrightness, splendour
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰley-to shine
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “gleam”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰley- →Every word from Proto-Germanic glaimiz →
gleam — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer