Where does “twin” come from?

Twin derives from Middle English twinne, from Old English twinn, from Proto-Germanic twihnaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwi- meaning two.

twin (English): Either of two people who shared the same uterus...

Definitions

  1. Either of two people who shared the same uterus...

Ancestry of “twin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtwin—
2Old Englishtwīndouble thread, twist, twine, linen-thread, linen
3Proto-West Germanictwiʀntwine, double thread
4Proto-Germanictwiznazthread, twine
5Proto-Indo-Europeandwisnósdouble
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two

Words derived from “twin”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwisnós →Every word from Proto-Germanic twiznaz →