Where does “label” come from?

label (Middle English) comes from Old French label, from Frankish lappā, from Proto-Germanic lappǭ, from Proto-Indo-European leb- — to hang down loosely; lip; lick.

label (Middle English): narrow band, strip of cloth

Definitions

  1. narrow band, strip of cloth

Ancestry of “label”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlabelstrip of fabric; badge; insignia
2Frankishlappācloth, rag, lobe; torn piece of cloth; rag, torn...
3Proto-Germaniclappǭ—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick

Words derived from “label”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leb- →