Where does “ply” come from?

Ply comes from English apply, which derives from Latin applicāre, formed from the prefix ad- and plectere meaning to fold or twist together.

ply (English): A layer of material; A strand that, twisted...

Definitions

  1. A layer of material; A strand that, twisted...

Ancestry of “ply”, step by step

ply traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English apply

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishapplyTo lay or place; to put; To put to use; to use or...
2Middle Englishaplien
3Old Frenchapplierto bend; to apply
4Latinapplicōto apply
5Latinad-to; usually prefixed to verbs, in which cases it...
6Latinīn-un-, non-, not
7Latinînin, at, on, upon, from (space)
8Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
9Proto-Italicenin
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin

via Middle English pleit

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpleit
2Middle Frenchplifold
3Middle Frenchplierto fold
4Old FrenchpleierAlternative form of ploiier
5Latinplicāre

Words derived from “ply

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én