Where does “pen” come from?

pen (Indonesian) comes from Dutch pen, from Middle Dutch penne, from Old French penne, from Latin penna, from Proto-Italic petnā, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

pen (Indonesian): alternative form of pena; pin, metal used to...

Definitions

  1. alternative form of pena; pin, metal used to...

Ancestry of “pen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchpenpen; a long feather of a bird; pin
2Middle Dutchpenne
3Old Frenchpennefeather
4Latinpennawing; feather, especially a flight-feather;...
5Proto-Italicpetnāfeather; wing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥Every word from Proto-Italic petnā