Where does “военнопленный” come from?

военнопленный (Russian) comes from Russian пле́нный, from Russian плен, from Old East Slavic плѣнъ, from Church Slavonic плѣнъ, from Proto-Slavic pelnъ, from Proto-Indo-European pel- — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.

военнопленный (Russian): prisoner of war

Definitions

  1. prisoner of war

Ancestry of “военнопленный”, step by step

военнопленный traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian пле́нный

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianпле́нныйcaptive
2Russianпленcaptivity, custody
3Old East Slavicплѣнъcaptivity
4Church Slavonicплѣнъ—
5Proto-Slavicpelnъloot, spoils; captivity
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpel-to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold

via Russian вое́нный

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianвое́нныйmilitary, war
2Proto-Slavic*vojьnьnъmilitary, martial
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pel- →Every word from Proto-Slavic pelnъ →Every word from Church Slavonic плѣнъ →