Where does “mainspan” come from?
mainspan (English) comes from English span, from Middle English span, from Old English spann, from Proto-Germanic spann, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pénh₁-ne-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁- — to twist; to weave.
mainspan (English): The length of suspended roadway between the...
Definitions
- The length of suspended roadway between the...
Ancestry of “mainspan”, step by step
mainspan traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English span
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | span | The space from the thumb to the end of the little... |
| 2 | Middle English | span | Alternative form of spanne |
| 3 | Old English | spann | span |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | spann | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |