Where does “side” come from?

Side comes from Middle English side, from Old English sīde, from Proto-Germanic sīdǭ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sek-, meaning to cut or divide.

side (English): A bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional...

Definitions

  1. A bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional...

Ancestry of “side”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsidecustom
2Old Englishsīdeside, flank
3Proto-West Germanic*sīdāside
4Medieval Latinsida
5Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
6Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
7Proto-Italicsaitā
8Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-
9Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
10Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy

Words derived from “side

Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-
side — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer