Where does “knif” come from?

knif (Middle English) comes from Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic knībaz, from Proto-Germanic knīpaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ-.

knif (Middle English): Alternative form of knyf; knife

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of knyf; knife

Ancestry of “knif”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishcnīfknife
2Old Norseknífrknife
3Proto-Germanicknībazpincers; shears; knife
4Proto-Germanicknīpanąto pinch
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneybʰ-—

Words derived from “knif”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic knīpaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic knībaz →
knif — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer