Where does “keychain” come from?

keychain (English) comes from English chain, from Middle English cheyne, from Old French chaine, from Latin catēna, from Proto-Indo-European kat- — cub; to weave, to braid; to link or weave...

keychain (English): A chain or ring to which a key may be attached;...

Definitions

  1. A chain or ring to which a key may be attached;...

Ancestry of “keychain”, step by step

keychain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English chain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchainA series of interconnected rings or links usually...
2Middle EnglishcheyneA chain; a series of links made of metal,...
3Old Frenchchaine
4Latincatēnachain
5Proto-Indo-Europeankat-cub; to weave, to braid; to link or weave...

via English key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kat-
keychain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer