Where does “rank” come from?

rank (Middle English) comes from Old English ranc, from Proto-Germanic rankaz, from Proto-Indo-European reǵ- — to bind; straight, direct; straight, right.

rank (Middle English): line, row; strong, proud

Definitions

  1. line, row; strong, proud

Ancestry of “rank”, step by step

rank traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old English ranc

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishrancproud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, froward,...
2Proto-Germanicrankazerect, upright
3Proto-Indo-Europeanreǵ-to bind; straight, direct; straight, right

via Old French ranc

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchrancline, row, rank
2Frankishhringcircle, ring; ring, circle

Words derived from “rank”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European reǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic rankaz →Every word from Old English ranc →