Where does “shan” come from?

Shan derives from Middle English shande, Old English sċand, and Middle English -en, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)kem-.

shan (English): unfair, harsh; poor, low-quality

Definitions

  1. unfair, harsh; poor, low-quality

Ancestry of “shan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshandShame; scandal; disgrace; Base coin; Worthless
2Middle EnglishshandeAlternative form of schonde
3Old Englishsċeand—
4Proto-Germanicskandōshame, disgrace
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱem-mutilated, hornless; to cover, hide, conceal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱem- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skandō →Every word from Old English sċeand →