Where does “theyn” come from?

theyn (Middle English) comes from Old English þeġn, from Proto-West Germanic þegn, from Proto-Germanic þegnaz, from Proto-Indo-European teḱ- — to sire, beget.

theyn (Middle English): A thane; a noble, especially of minor or lesser status

Definitions

  1. A thane; a noble, especially of minor or lesser status

Ancestry of “theyn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishþeġnservant
2Proto-West Germanicþegnretainer, follower, servant
3Proto-Germanicþegnazretainer, servant
4Proto-Indo-Europeanteḱ-to sire, beget

Words derived from “theyn”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European teḱ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þegnaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic þegn →
theyn — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer