Where does “linchpin” come from?
Linchpin derives from Middle English lynspin, from Middle English pin, though the ultimate origin and earliest meaning remain uncertain.
linchpin (English): A pin inserted through holes at the end of an...
Definitions
- A pin inserted through holes at the end of an...
Ancestry of “linchpin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | lynspin | — |
| 2 | Old English | lynis | lynchpin |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | lunaz | ransom |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | lewh₃- | to wash |