Where does “Elfenbein” come from?
Elfenbein (German) comes from Middle High German helfenbein, from Old High German helfantbein, from Old High German bein, from Proto-West Germanic bain, from Proto-Germanic bainą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.
Elfenbein (German): ivory
Definitions
- ivory
Ancestry of “Elfenbein”, step by step
Elfenbein traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle High German helfenbein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | helfenbein | — |
| 2 | Old High German | helfantbein | ivory; elephant bone |
| 3 | Old High German | bein | leg; bone |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | bain | leg; bone |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bainą | leg; bone |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyh₂- | to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut |
via French tour d'ivoire
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | tour d'ivoire | ivory tower |