Where does “underclothing” come from?

Underclothing derives from Middle English under- and -ing (from Old English -ing), combined with a root from Proto-Indo-European n̥dʰér and gley-, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European gel- meaning "to cover or conceal."

underclothing (English): clothing worn next to the skin; underwear

Definitions

  1. clothing worn next to the skin; underwear

Ancestry of “underclothing”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishunder-Beneath, under
2EnglishunderIn or at a lower level than; As a subject of;...
3Middle Englishunderunder
4Old Englishunderunder, beneath
5Proto-Germanicunderamong, between; under, beneath; under
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁entérbetween
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁enin; in, inside
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁en →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁entér →Every word from Proto-Germanic under →