Where does “spean” come from?
spean (English) comes from Middle English spene, from Old English spane, from Proto-West Germanic spanu, from Proto-Germanic spenô, from Proto-Indo-European psten-os-, from Proto-Indo-European pstḗn, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn, from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- — to stand.
spean (English): A teat or nipple of a cow; to wean
Definitions
- A teat or nipple of a cow; to wean
Ancestry of “spean”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spene | Alternative form of spanne |
| 2 | Old English | spane | teat |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | spanu | piece of wood, chip, shaving |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | spenô | nipple |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | psten-os- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pstḗn | breast, teat |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂ǵ-sth₂-ḗn | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |