Where does “stain” come from?
Stain comes from Middle English steinen, from Old Norse steina, from Old Norse steinn meaning stone, from Proto-Germanic stainaz, from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand or be firm.
stain (English): A discoloured spot or area; A blemish on one's...
Definitions
- A discoloured spot or area; A blemish on one's...
Ancestry of “stain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | steinen | to stain |
| 2 | Old Norse | steina | to stain, colour, paint |
| 3 | Old Norse | Steinn | — |
| 4 | Proto-Norse | ᛊᛏᚨᛁᚾᚨᛉ | stone |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | stainaz | stone |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | steyh₂- | to stiffen |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |
Words derived from “stain”