Where does “linespacing” come from?

linespacing (English) comes from English line, from Middle English line, from Old English līne, from Proto-West Germanic *līnā, from Proto-Germanic līnǭ, from Proto-Germanic līną, from Proto-Indo-European līno- — flax.

linespacing (English): linespace

Definitions

  1. linespace

Ancestry of “linespacing”, step by step

linespacing traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English line

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlineA path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight
2Middle Englishlinerope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,...
3Old Englishlīneline, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,...
4Proto-West Germanic*līnāline, chord, rope, string
5Proto-Germaniclīnǭthat which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,...
6Proto-Germaniclīnąflax
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlīno-flax

via English spacing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishspacingpresent participle of space; The action of the...
2Englishspace"Of time."; "Unlimited or generalized extent,...
3Middle Englishspace
4Old Frenchespacespace; room; duration
5LatinspatiumSpace, room, extent; Distance between points; A...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanspéh₁-to succeed, to prosper
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspeh₁-to succeed, to prosper
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līno-