Where does “Been” come from?

Been (German Low German) comes from Old Saxon bēn, from Proto-West Germanic bain, from Proto-Germanic bainą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.

Been (German Low German): leg; bone as a material; an indiscriminate number...

Definitions

  1. leg; bone as a material; an indiscriminate number...

Ancestry of “Been”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Saxonbēnbone
2Proto-West Germanicbainleg; bone
3Proto-Germanicbainąleg; bone
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyh₂-to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bainą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic bain →