Where does “underling” come from?

Underling comes from Old English underling, from Proto-Germanic underling, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "one positioned beneath," combining n̥dʰér with -lós.

underling (English): A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or...

Definitions

  1. A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or...

Ancestry of “underling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old English-lingadverbial suffix denoting direction, state or...
2Old Englishlanglong; lasting; old, ancient; advanced
3Proto-West Germaniclanglong
4Proto-Germaniclangazlong
5Proto-Indo-Europeandlongʰoslong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰos →Every word from Proto-Germanic langaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic lang →