Where does “string” come from?

String derives from Middle English string, Old English streng, Proto-Germanic strangiz, and Proto-Indo-European strengʰ-, ultimately from the root ster- meaning to be stiff or rigid.

string (English): A long, thin and flexible structure made from...

Definitions

  1. A long, thin and flexible structure made from...

Ancestry of “string”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstring—
2Old Englishstrengstring
3Proto-Germanicstrangizstring
4Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
5Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile

Words derived from “string”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic strangiz →