Where does “harebrained” come from?
harebrained (English) comes from English brained, from English brain, from Middle English brayn, from Old English bræġn, from Proto-West Germanic *bragn, from Proto-Germanic bragną, from Proto-Indo-European mregʰnom, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
harebrained (English): Absurd, foolish or stupid; Frivolous and silly;...
Definitions
- Absurd, foolish or stupid; Frivolous and silly;...
Ancestry of “harebrained”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | brained | Having a particular kind or number of brain;... |
| 2 | English | brain | The control center of the central nervous system... |
| 3 | Middle English | brayn | The brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;... |
| 4 | Old English | bræġn | brain |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *bragn | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bragną | brain |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mregʰnom | skull, brain |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |