Where does “benn” come from?
benn (Scots) comes from Scottish Gaelic beinn, from Old Irish benn, from Proto-Celtic bandā, from Proto-Indo-European bn̥dʰéh₂, from Proto-Indo-European bendʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰendʰ- — to bind; bond.
Ancestry of “benn”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Scottish Gaelic | beinn | mountain, hill; pinnacle; bin |
| 2 | Old Irish | benn | peak; pinnacle; mountain |
| 3 | Proto-Celtic | bandā | top, peak; horn |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bn̥dʰéh₂ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bendʰ- | pin, point |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰendʰ- | to bind; bond |