Where does “label” come from?

label (Old French) comes from Frankish lappā, from Proto-Germanic lappǭ, from Proto-Indo-European leb- — to hang down loosely; lip; lick.

label (Old French): strip of fabric; badge; insignia

Definitions

  1. strip of fabric; badge; insignia

Ancestry of “label”, step by step

label traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Frankish lappā

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frankishlappācloth, rag, lobe; torn piece of cloth; rag, torn...
2Proto-Germaniclappǭ—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick

via Old French lambel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchlambelfringe, strip

Words derived from “label”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leb- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lappǭ →Every word from Frankish lappā →