Where does “spin” come from?

spin (Middle English) comes from Middle English spyne, from Old French espine, from Latin spīna, from Proto-Italic speinā, from Proto-Indo-European spēy- — to stretch; thrive; succeed.

spin (Middle English): Alternative form of spyne

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of spyne

Ancestry of “spin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishspyneA spine
2Old Frenchespinespine; backbone; spine; spike
3Latinspīnaa thorn or a thorny tree or shrub, such as whitethorn, hawthorn, or blackthorn
4Proto-Italicspeināthorn
5Proto-Indo-Europeanspēy-to stretch; thrive; succeed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European spēy- →
spin — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer