Where does “spin” come from?
Spin comes from Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pénh₂-ne-, ultimately from the root (s)penh₁-.
spin (English): To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction
Definitions
- To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction
Ancestry of “spin”, step by step
spin traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English spinnen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | spinnen | To spin or convert fibre into yarn; To make... |
| 2 | Old English | spinnan | to spin |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |
via English spinnaker
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | spinnaker | A supplemental sail to the mainsail, especially a... |