Where does “перочинный” come from?

перочинный (Russian) comes from Russian перо́, from Proto-Slavic però, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

перочинный (Russian): pen(knife) originally "used for sharpening goose feathers, as used for [[write

Definitions

  1. pen(knife) originally "used for sharpening goose feathers, as used for [[write

Ancestry of “перочинный”, step by step

перочинный traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian перо́

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianперо́feather
2Proto-Slavicperòwing
3Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

via Russian чини́ть

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianчини́тьto repair; to cause, to administer
2Proto-Slavicčinitito do, to accomplish
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷey-n-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷey-to pay; to avenge
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ →Every word from Proto-Slavic però →