Where does “torn” come from?
torn (Faroese) comes from Old Norse turn, from Middle Low German tōrn, from Old French tor, from French tour, from Latin tornus, from Ancient Greek τόρνος, from Proto-Indo-European torh₂no-, from Proto-Indo-European terh₁- — to rub, turn; to drill, pierce.
torn (Faroese): hawthorn bush; thorn; tower, belfry, spire;...
Definitions
- hawthorn bush; thorn; tower, belfry, spire;...
Ancestry of “torn”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | turn | — |
| 2 | Middle Low German | tōrn | — |
| 3 | Old French | tor | tower; bull |
| 4 | French | tour | tower; rook; apartment building |
| 5 | Latin | tornus | A turner's wheel, lathe; A potter's wheel |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | τόρνος | A tool similar to a pair of compasses used to... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | torh₂no- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | terh₁- | to rub, turn; to drill, pierce |