Where does “keno” come from?

keno (Esperanto) comes from German Kien, from Middle High German kien, from Old High German kien, from Proto-West Germanic *kēn — resinous pine wood which was used for torches.

keno (Esperanto): fatwood

Definitions

  1. fatwood

Ancestry of “keno”, step by step

keno traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Kien

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKienresinous wood, fit for firing
2Middle High Germankien—
3Old High Germankien—
4Proto-West Germanic*kēnresinous pine wood which was used for torches

via English keno

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkenoA gambling game, a variety of the game of lotto,...
2Frenchquineset of five, group of five (such as the digits on one hand)
3Latinquīnusfive each; five at a time
Every word from Proto-West Germanic *kēn →Every word from Old High German kien →Every word from Middle High German kien →