Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “lyme” come from?

lyme (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,...

lyme (Middle English): organ, body part; limb, extremity of the body; An...

Definitions

  1. organ, body part; limb, extremity of the body; An...

Ancestry of “lyme”, 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 “lyme”

  • lime
  • limb
  • limestone
  • limes
  • limelight
  • forelimb
  • limewater
  • limbless
  • limy
  • birdlime
  • limekiln
  • limey
  • limewash
  • limeade
  • interlimb
  • limejuice
  • limewood
  • limescale
  • brooklime
  • limblessness
  • limeworks
  • limeless
  • limby
  • intralimb
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyh₂- →