Where does “skin” come from?
Skin comes from Middle English skinn, from Old Norse skinn, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European skeh₁i-d-, meaning to cut or split.
skin (English): The outer protective layer of the body of any...
Definitions
- The outer protective layer of the body of any...
Ancestry of “skin”, step by step
skin traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English skinn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | skinn | Alternative form of skyn |
| 2 | Old English | scinn | a skin |
| 3 | Old Norse | skinn | animal hide |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | skinþą | animal hide; fruit peel; skin |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | sken- | to split off |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ken- | to peel; to split off; peel |
via Middle English skyn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | skyn | The skin; A layer or cover located in the inside... |