Where does “brain” come from?

brain (Middle English) comes from Middle English brayn, from Old English bræġn, from Proto-West Germanic *bragn, from Proto-Germanic bragną, from Proto-Indo-European mregʰnom, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

brain (Middle English): Alternative form of brayn

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of brayn

Ancestry of “brain”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishbraynThe brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;...
2Old Englishbræġnbrain
3Proto-West Germanic*bragnbrain
4Proto-Germanicbragnąbrain
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmregʰnomskull, brain
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mregʰnom →Every word from Proto-Germanic bragną →
brain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer