Where does “knappnål” come from?

knappnål (Swedish) comes from Swedish knapp, from Old Norse knappr, from Proto-Germanic knappô, from Proto-Indo-European gnebʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European gen- — to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up, concentrate; to...

knappnål (Swedish): pin pointed piece of metal

Definitions

  1. pin pointed piece of metal

Ancestry of “knappnål”, step by step

knappnål traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish knapp

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishknappscarce, not much of something; somewhat less...
2Old Norseknapprknob
3Proto-Germanicknappôknob, lump; button
4Proto-Indo-Europeangnebʰ-to press, tighten
5Proto-Indo-Europeangen-to squeeze, pinch, kink, ball up, concentrate; to...

via Swedish nål

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishnålneedle; needle; syringe; needle; a long, thin...
2Old Swedishnālneedle
3Old Norsenálneedle
4Proto-Germanicnēþlōneedle
5Proto-Indo-European(s)neh₁-to spin (thread), to sew
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gen- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gnebʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic knappô →