Where does “limp” come from?

limp (Middle English) comes from Old English lemp, from Proto-West Germanic *limpan, from Proto-Germanic limpaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb- — to droop; sag; hang loosely.

Ancestry of “limp”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishlemp—
2Proto-West Germanic*limpanto turn out well
3Proto-Germaniclimpanąto glide; to go; to suit, fit
4Proto-Indo-European(s)lemb-to droop; sag; hang loosely

Words derived from “limp”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)lemb- →