Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “lime” come from?

lime (Middle English) comes from Old English līm, from Proto-Germanic līmaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂leyH-, from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- — to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...

lime (Middle English): Alternative form of lyme

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of lyme

Ancestry of “lime”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlīmglue
2Proto-Germaniclīmaz—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂leyH-to smear
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyh₂-to die, disapear; to avoid, elude, decline,...

Words derived from “lime”

  • lime
  • limestone
  • limes
  • limelight
  • limewater
  • limy
  • birdlime
  • limekiln
  • limey
  • limewash
  • limeade
  • limejuice
  • limewood
  • limescale
  • brooklime
  • limeworks
  • limeless
  • delime
  • limelike
  • belime
  • liminess
  • overlime
  • relime
  • Limeyland
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- →