Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “labeling” come from?

Labeling comes from Middle English label, from Old French label, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European leb-, a root meaning to hang or drape.

labeling (English): A set of labels applied to the various objects in...

Definitions

  1. A set of labels applied to the various objects in...

Ancestry of “labeling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlabelA small ticket or sign giving information about...
2Middle Englishlabelnarrow band, strip of cloth
3Old Frenchlabelstrip of fabric; badge; insignia
4Frankishlappācloth, rag, lobe; torn piece of cloth; rag, torn...
5Proto-Germaniclappǭ—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick

Words derived from “labeling”

  • photolabeling
  • biolabeling
  • colabeling
  • biolabelling
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leb- →