Where does “lean” come from?

lean (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic laun, from Proto-Germanic launą, from Proto-Indo-European leh₂w- — to seize, gain; benefit, prize.

lean (Old English): reward; to blame, fault, reproach

Definitions

  1. reward; to blame, fault, reproach

Ancestry of “lean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germaniclaunreward, credit, booty
2Proto-Germaniclaunąreward, credit, booty
3Proto-Indo-Europeanleh₂w-to seize, gain; benefit, prize

Words derived from “lean”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leh₂w- →Every word from Proto-Germanic launą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic laun →