Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “hirnestan” come from?

hirnestan (Middle English) comes from Middle English stan, from Old English stān, from Old Norse Veggr, from Proto-Germanic wajjuz, from Proto-Indo-European wh̥₁yús, from Proto-Indo-European weh₁y- — to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,...

hirnestan (Middle English): cornerstone

Definitions

  1. cornerstone

Ancestry of “hirnestan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishstanAlternative form of stone; stone
2Old Englishstānstone, rock
3Old NorseVeggr—
4Proto-Germanicwajjuzwall
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwh̥₁yús—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweh₁y-to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weh₁y- →