Where does “yarn” come from?

Yarn comes from Middle English yarn, from Old English ġearn, which derives from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer-, a root also meaning to grasp or entwine.

yarn (English): A twisted strand of fiber used for knitting or...

Definitions

  1. A twisted strand of fiber used for knitting or...

Ancestry of “yarn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishyernwilling, eager; to coagulate or curdle
2Old Englishġeorneager
3Proto-West Germanicgerneager, willing
4Proto-Germanicgernazeager, willing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

Words derived from “yarn

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer-Every word from Proto-Germanic gernazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic gern