Where does “split end” come from?

split end (English) comes from English End, from Middle English ende, from Old English ende, from Proto-Germanic andi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- — on, onto.

split end (English): A hair which has split at the end, usually from...

Definitions

  1. A hair which has split at the end, usually from...

Ancestry of “split end”, step by step

split end traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English End

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishEndA key that when pressed causes the cursor to go...
2Middle EnglishendeThe end or finishing of a thing; the terminal...
3Old Englishendeend, limit, border, corner
4Proto-Germanicandiin addition, furthermore, and
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntiopposite; near; in front
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English Split

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSplitTo divide fully or partly along a more or less straight line
2Serbo-CroatianSplȉt
3ItalianSpalato
4LatinSpalatum
5Ancient GreekΣπάλαθος
6Ancient GreekἈσπάλαθοςname of several types of thornbush
7Ancient Greekἀσπάλαθοςname of several types of thornbush
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts
split end — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer