Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lanksome” come from?

lanksome (English) comes from English lank, from Middle English lank, from Old English hlanc, from Proto-West Germanic hlank, from Proto-Germanic hlankaz, from Proto-Indo-European kleng- — to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist.

lanksome (English): Characterised or marked by lankness

Definitions

  1. Characterised or marked by lankness

Ancestry of “lanksome”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlankSlender or thin; not well filled out; not plump;...
2Middle Englishlank—
3Old Englishhlancloose, slender, flaccid, lank
4Proto-West Germanichlankflexible, bent
5Proto-Germanichlankazflexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek
6Proto-Indo-Europeankleng-to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleng- →