Where does “label” come from?

Label comes from Middle English label, from Old French label, from Proto-Indo-European leb-, a root of uncertain original meaning.

label (English): A small ticket or sign giving information about...

Definitions

  1. A small ticket or sign giving information about...

Ancestry of “label”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlabelnarrow band, strip of cloth
2Old Frenchlabelstrip of fabric; badge; insignia
3Frankishlappācloth, rag, lobe; torn piece of cloth; rag, torn...
4Proto-Germaniclappǭ—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick

Words derived from “label”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leb- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lappǭ →Every word from Frankish lappā →