Where does “needleful” come from?
needleful (English) comes from English needle, from Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl, from Proto-Germanic *nāþlu, from Proto-Germanic nēþlō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)neh₁- — to spin (thread), to sew.
needleful (English): As much thread as is put into a needle at one...
Definitions
- As much thread as is put into a needle at one...
Ancestry of “needleful”, step by step
needleful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English needle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | needle | A fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such... |
| 2 | Middle English | nedle | needle |
| 3 | Old English | nǣdl | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *nāþlu | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | nēþlō | needle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)neh₁- | to spin (thread), to sew |
via English ful
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ful | — |