Where does “penknife” come from?
penknife (Middle English) comes from Middle English penne knyfe, from Middle English penne, from Anglo-Norman penne, from Old French penne, from Latin penna, from Proto-Italic petnā, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.
penknife (Middle English): Alternative form of penne knyfe
Definitions
- Alternative form of penne knyfe
Ancestry of “penknife”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | penne knyfe | penknife |
| 2 | Middle English | penne | A pen or other implement for writing; A writer's... |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | penne | feather |
| 4 | Old French | penne | feather |
| 5 | Latin | penna | wing; feather, especially a flight-feather;... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | petnā | feather; wing |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | péth₂r̥ | wing; feather |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | peth₂- | to spread out; to fly |