Where does “linewidth” come from?

Linewidth derives from English line and English wide, from Old English līn and Old English wide, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European līno- and Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁.

linewidth (English): a measure of the width of the band of frequencies...

Definitions

  1. a measure of the width of the band of frequencies...

Ancestry of “linewidth”, step by step

linewidth 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 width

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwidthThe state of being wide; The measurement of the...
2EnglishwideHaving a large physical extent from side to side;...
3Old Englishwīdwide, vast, broad, long; distant, far
4Proto-Germanicwīdazwide; broad
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weydʰh₁osset apart, asunder, in two
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwi-two; apart, asunder
7Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līno-