Where does “lenke” come from?

lenke (Middle English) comes from Old Norse hlenkr, from Proto-Germanic hlankiz, from Proto-Germanic hlankaz, from Proto-Indo-European kleng- — to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist.

Ancestry of “lenke”, step by step

lenke traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse hlenkr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehlenkr—
2Proto-Germanichlankizring; chainlink; bond; fetter
3Proto-Germanichlankazflexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek
4Proto-Indo-Europeankleng-to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist

via Old Norse hlekkr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehlekkrlink; a chain of links

via Old English hlenċe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhlenċea coat of mail, chain mail
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleng- →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlankaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic hlankiz →
lenke — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer