Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “outflow” come from?

Outflow comes from Middle English ut- combined with Old English flōwan, from Proto-Germanic flōaną meaning "to flow," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European plew-.

outflow (English): The process of flowing out; To flow outward

Definitions

  1. The process of flowing out; To flow outward

Ancestry of “outflow”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflowA movement in people or things with a particular...
2Middle EnglishflowenTo flow, stream, or issue; to move; To become...
3Old Englishflōwanto flow
4Proto-West Germanic*flōan—
5Proto-Germanicflōanąto flow
6Proto-Indo-Europeanplōw-to flow, swim; to pour, wash
7Proto-Indo-Europeanplew-to fly, flow, run
Every word from Proto-Indo-European plew- →