Where does “silverline” come from?

silverline (English) comes from English line, from Middle English line, from Old English līne, from Proto-West Germanic *līnā, from Proto-Germanic līnǭ, from Proto-Germanic līną, from Proto-Indo-European līno- — flax.

silverline (English): Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Spindasis, having silver coloured stripes on the underwings

Definitions

  1. Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Spindasis, having silver coloured stripes on the underwings

Ancestry of “silverline”, step by step

silverline traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English Silver

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSilverfor a silversmith or a rich man, or for someone having silvery gray hair or living by a silvery brook
2GermanSilbersilver; argent
3Middle High Germansilber
4Old High Germansilbarsilver
5Proto-West Germanic*silubrsilver
6Proto-Germanicsilubrąsilver
Every word from Proto-Indo-European līno-Every word from Proto-Germanic līnąEvery word from Proto-Germanic līnǭ