Etymology Explorer › English

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

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishapplyTo lay or place; to put; To put to use; to use or...
2Middle Englishaplien—
3Old Frenchapplierto bend; to apply
4Latinapplicō—
5Latinad-to; usually prefixed to verbs, in which cases it...
6Latinīn-—
7Latinîn—
8Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
9Proto-Italicenin
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin

Words derived from “ply”

  • plywood
  • plying
  • pliers
  • plier
  • plyboard
  • pliest
  • overply
  • two-ply
  • nonplywood
  • plycount
  • プライヤ
  • plywood
  • playis
  • plais
  • plaias
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →