Where does “bain” come from?
bain (Middle English) comes from Old Norse beinn, from Proto-Germanic bainą, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.
Ancestry of “bain”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | beinn | straight, right; hospitable; -legged |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | bainą | leg; bone |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyh₂- | to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut |
Words derived from “bain”