Where does “linke” come from?
linke (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 “linke”, step by step
linke traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old Norse hlenkr
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | hlenkr | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hlankiz | ring; chainlink; bond; fetter |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | hlankaz | flexible; bendsome; slim; slender; sleek |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | kleng- | to turn, bend; to bend, turn, wind, twist |
via Old English hlenċe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | hlenċe | a coat of mail, chain mail |