Where does “line” come from?
Line comes from Old English līn, from Proto-Indo-European līno-, a root of uncertain ultimate origin whose meaning is not securely established.
line (English): A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight
Definitions
- A path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight
Ancestry of “line”, step by step
line traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English line
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | line | rope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,... |
| 2 | Old English | līne | line, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *līnā | line, chord, rope, string |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | līnǭ | that which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | līną | flax |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | līno- | flax |
via Latin līnea
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | līnea | A linen thread |
| 2 | Latin | līnum | flax |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | līnom | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | līnom | flax |
via Middle French ligner
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | ligner | — |