Where does “sterling” come from?
Sterling derives from Middle English sterlyng, from Old English stierling, combining Old English star- (from Proto-Germanic star-) with the diminutive suffix -ling (from Proto-Indo-European -lós), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sterh₁-.
sterling (English): The currency of the United Kingdom; especially...
Definitions
- The currency of the United Kingdom; especially...
Ancestry of “sterling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sterling | starling |
| 2 | Old English | starlinc | — |
| 3 | Old English | -ling | adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or... |
| 4 | Old English | lang | long; lasting; old, ancient; advanced |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | lang | long |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |
Words derived from “sterling”