Where does “both” come from?
both (Middle English) comes from Middle English bothe, from Old English bā þā, from Old Norse báðir, from Proto-Germanic bai, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₁.
both (Middle English): Alternative form of bothe
Definitions
- Alternative form of bothe
Ancestry of “both”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bothe | A store, kiosk or booth, especially a temporary... |
| 2 | Old English | bā þā | both the; both those |
| 3 | Old Norse | báðir | both |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bai | both |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰoh₁ | — |