Where does “legroom” come from?
legroom (English) comes from English room, from Middle English roum, from Old English rūm, from Proto-West Germanic rūm, from Proto-Germanic rūmaz, from Proto-Indo-European rewh₁- — free space.
legroom (English): Space to stretch the legs while seated; Space to...
Definitions
- Space to stretch the legs while seated; Space to...
Ancestry of “legroom”, step by step
legroom traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English room
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | room | Opportunity or scope; Space "for" something, or... |
| 2 | Middle English | roum | A space or area; A room |
| 3 | Old English | rūm | room, space; roomy, spacious, ample, extensive,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | rūm | roomy, spacious; room, open space |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rūmaz | roomy, spacious, open |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | rewh₁- | free space |