Where does “bei” come from?
bei (Middle English) comes from Old English bēag, from Proto-West Germanic *baug, from Proto-Germanic baugaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewgʰ- — to bend; curve, arch.
Ancestry of “bei”, step by step
bei traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English bēag
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | bēag | a ring, bracelet, collar, garland, crown,... |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | *baug | ring, bracelet |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | baugaz | a bend; bow |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰewgʰ- | to bend; curve, arch |
via Old English bēah
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | bēah | ring |