Where does “matrilineal” come from?
matrilineal (Malay) comes from English matrilineal, from English lineal, from Old French lineal, from Latin līneālis, from Latin līnea, from Latin līnum, from Proto-Italic līnom, from Proto-Indo-European līnom — flax.
matrilineal (Malay): matrilineal
Ancestry of “matrilineal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | matrilineal | Tracing descent only through female ancestors |
| 2 | English | lineal | Of a family relationship that includes mothers,... |
| 3 | Old French | lineal | — |
| 4 | Latin | līneālis | — |
| 5 | Latin | līnea | — |
| 6 | Latin | līnum | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | līnom | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | līnom | flax |