Where does “whin” come from?

Whin derives from Middle English whynne, from Old Norse hvein, from Proto-Germanic hwainō, from Proto-Indo-European ḱʷeyn-, of uncertain ultimate meaning.

whin (English): Gorse; furze; The plant woad-waxen; Whinstone

Definitions

Gorse; furze; The plant woad-waxen; Whinstone

Ancestry of “whin”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Middle English	whynne	Gorse or a similar plant
2	Old Norse	hvein	swampy land; gorse, furze; swamp, marsh
3	Proto-Germanic	hwainō	—
4	Proto-Indo-European	ḱweyn-	to make dirty, soil; filth; mud; to soil; mud;...

Words derived from “whin”

whinchat
whinberry
whinmill
pettywhin

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱweyn- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hwainō →Every word from Old Norse hvein →