Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “leg” come from?

leg (Middle English) comes from Old Norse leggr, from Proto-Germanic lagjaz, from Proto-Indo-European (ǝ)lak-.

leg (Middle English): leg, limb; shank, shin; leg

Definitions

  1. leg, limb; shank, shin; leg

Ancestry of “leg”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseleggrleg, stem
2Proto-Germaniclagjazleg, thigh
3Proto-Indo-European(ǝ)lak-—

Words derived from “leg”

  • legs
  • leg
  • ledge
  • Legge
  • bootleg
  • foreleg
  • leggy
  • bootlegging
  • legwork
  • bootlegger
  • blackleg
  • legging
  • dogleg
  • ledged
  • legroom
  • midleg
  • ledgment
  • proleg
  • legman
  • ledgy
  • gateleg
  • leghold
  • pantleg
  • legwear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (ǝ)lak- →