Where does “netherling” come from?

netherling (English) comes from English nether, from English nither, from Middle English nitheren, from Old English niþerian, from Old English niþer, from Proto-Germanic niþer, from Proto-Indo-European niter.

netherling (English): Articles of clothing worn underneath;...

Definitions

  1. Articles of clothing worn underneath;...

Ancestry of “netherling”, step by step

netherling traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English nether

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnetherLower; under; Lying beneath, or conceived as...
2EnglishnitherAlternative form of nether
3Middle Englishnitheren
4Old Englishniþerianto depress, abase, bring low, humiliate, oppress,...
5Old Englishniþerdown; downstairs
6Proto-Germanicniþerdown, downwards
7Proto-Indo-Europeanniter

via English Ling

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLingAny of various codlike saltwater fish often used as food by humans, those of the genus Molva, in the family Lotidae
2Middle EnglishlingAny of various varieties of heather or broom
3Old Norselyngheather, ling
4Proto-Germaniclingwąheather, ling
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlengʷʰom
6Proto-Indo-Europeanlengʷʰ-light, agile, nimble; light, not heavy, agile,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European niter