Where does “dane” come from?
dane (Middle English) comes from Old English dene, from Proto-West Germanic dani, from Proto-Germanic daniz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰenh₂- — to set in motion; to flow.
dane (Middle English): Dane
Definitions
- Dane
Ancestry of “dane”, step by step
dane traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English dene
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | dene | valley |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | dani | a flat area, floor; a small dale |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | daniz | a Dane |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰenh₂- | to set in motion; to flow |
via Old Norse danir
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | danir | the Danes |