Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “starveling” come from?

starveling (English) comes from English -ling, from Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Old English lang, from Proto-West Germanic lang, from Proto-Germanic langaz, from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰos — long.

starveling (English): One who is thin from lack of food; Starving;...

Definitions

  1. One who is thin from lack of food; Starving;...

Ancestry of “starveling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-lingsmall, immature, miniature; follower or resident;...
2Middle English-ling—
3Old English-lingadverbial suffix denoting direction, state or...
4Old Englishlanglong; lasting; old, ancient; advanced
5Proto-West Germaniclanglong
6Proto-Germaniclangazlong
7Proto-Indo-Europeandlongʰoslong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰos →