Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “penne knyfe” come from?

penne knyfe (Middle English) comes 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.

penne knyfe (Middle English): penknife

Definitions

  1. penknife

Ancestry of “penne knyfe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishpenneA pen or other implement for writing; A writer's...
2Anglo-Normanpennefeather
3Old Frenchpennefeather
4Latinpennawing; feather, especially a flight-feather;...
5Proto-Italicpetnāfeather; wing
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

Words derived from “penne knyfe”

  • penknife
  • penknife
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →