Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “lid” come from?

Lid comes from Old English hlid, from Proto-Germanic hlidą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots ḱel-, ḱlitós, and ḱley- related to concealing or closing.

lid (English): The top or cover of a container; A cap or hat;...

Definitions

  1. The top or cover of a container; A cap or hat;...

Ancestry of “lid”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishlidA lid; a piece of material used to cover a...
2Old EnglishhliðAlternative spelling of hliþ
3Proto-Germanichlidąlid, cover
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlitóscovered, sheltered; leaning, sloped, inclined
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱley-to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “lid”

  • lidless
  • potlid
  • lidlike
  • decklid
  • earlid
  • unlid
  • lidlock
  • lidlessness
  • lidder
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →