Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “penning” come from?

Penning derives from English pen, traced through Middle English penne to Latin penna, ultimately from Latin pinna meaning feather or wing.

penning (English): present participle of pen; Writing; literary...

Definitions

  1. present participle of pen; Writing; literary...

Ancestry of “penning”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpenAn enclosure used to contain domesticated...
2EnglishpenetrationThe act of penetrating something; Specifically,...
3Middle Englishpenetracioun—
4Old Frenchpenetracïon—
5Latinpenetrātiō—
6Latin-tiō—
7Latindissertātiō—
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →