Where does “span” come from?
span (Middle English) comes from Old English spann, from Proto-Germanic spann, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pénh₁-ne-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁- — to twist; to weave.
span (Middle English): Alternative form of spanne
Definitions
- Alternative form of spanne
Ancestry of “span”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | spann | span |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | spann | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | spinnaną | to spin |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)pénh₁-ne- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)penh₁- | to twist; to weave |