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
- reward; to blame, fault, reproach
Ancestry of “lean”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-West Germanic | laun | reward, credit, booty |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | launą | reward, credit, booty |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | leh₂w- | to seize, gain; benefit, prize |