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.

both (Middle English): Alternative form of bothe

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of bothe

Ancestry of “both”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbotheA store, kiosk or booth, especially a temporary...
2Old Englishbā þāboth the; both those
3Old Norsebáðirboth
4Proto-Germanicbaiboth
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰoh₁both
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₁ →Every word from Proto-Germanic bai →Every word from Old Norse báðir →