Where does “sideline” come from?

Sideline comes from English side and English lind, derived from Old English sīde, which traces to Proto-Germanic sīdǭ and ultimately Proto-Indo-European līno-.

sideline (English): A line at the side of something; Something that...

Definitions

  1. A line at the side of something; Something that...

Ancestry of “sideline”, step by step

sideline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Side

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSideA bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdāside
5Medieval Latinsida
6Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
7Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
8Proto-Italicsaitā
9Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-
10Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy

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

Words derived from “sideline

Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European sh₂ey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European séh₂ito-