Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “twelf” come from?

twelf (Middle English) comes from Old English twelf, from Proto-Germanic twalif, from Proto-Germanic -lif, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

twelf (Middle English): Alternative form of twelve

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of twelve

Ancestry of “twelf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishtwelftwelve
2Proto-Germanictwaliftwelve
3Proto-Germanic-lifleft over
4Proto-Indo-Europeanleyp-to stick; fat or sticky substance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...

Words derived from “twelf”

  • twal
  • twalf
  • twelf
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēy- →