Where does “liegewoman” come from?
liegewoman (English) comes from English liege, from Middle English liege, from Anglo-Norman lige, from Old French liege, from Vulgar Latin levius, from Latin lēvis, from Proto-Italic leɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European h₁léngʰus — light.
liegewoman (English): A female liege
Ancestry of “liegewoman”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | liege | A free and independent person; "specifically", a... |
| 2 | Middle English | liege | Alternative form of lege |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | lige | liege; liegeman; vassal |
| 4 | Old French | liege | liege, servant; liege, free |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | levius | comparative degree of leviter |
| 6 | Latin | lēvis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | leɣʷis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁léngʰus | lightweight |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁lengʷʰ- | light |