Where does “plotline” come from?

plotline (English) comes from English line, from Middle English line, from Old English līne, from Proto-West Germanic *līnā, from Proto-Germanic līnǭ, from Proto-Germanic līną, from Proto-Indo-European līno- — flax.

plotline (English): The basic plot of a story or group of stories; A...

Definitions

  1. The basic plot of a story or group of stories; A...

Ancestry of “plotline”, step by step

plotline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English line

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlineA path through two or more points (compare ‘segment’); a continuous mark, including as made by a pen; any path, curved or straight
2Middle Englishlinerope, cord; line, rule, ruler, measure; rule,...
3Old Englishlīneline, rope, cord; line, cable, rope, hawser,...
4Proto-West Germanic*līnāline, chord, rope, string
5Proto-Germaniclīnǭthat which is made of flax; line, chord, rope,...
6Proto-Germaniclīnąflax
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlīno-flax

via English plot

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishplotThe course of a story, comprising a series of...
2Middle Englishplotplot of land
3Old Englishplota plot of ground
4Proto-Germanicplatazslap, strike, blow
5Proto-Indo-Europeanb(e)lad-to strike, beat
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līno-Every word from Proto-Germanic līnąEvery word from Proto-Germanic līnǭ