Where does “län” come from?
län (Swedish) comes from Old Swedish län, from Middle Low German lēn, from Old Norse lén, from Middle Low German lehen, from Proto-Germanic laihną, from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- — to leave.
län (Swedish): fief, fiefdom; a county, a political subdivision...
Definitions
- fief, fiefdom; a county, a political subdivision...
Ancestry of “län”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Swedish | län | — |
| 2 | Middle Low German | lēn | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | lén | fief, fee; royal grant or emoulement; royal... |
| 4 | Middle Low German | lehen | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | laihną | that which is lent, loan; fief |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leykʷ- | to leave |