Where does “länsman” come from?

länsman (Swedish) comes from Swedish lån, 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.

länsman (Swedish): (a title for) a local government administrative officer (tasked with, among other things, police duties), (roughly) a sheriff

Definitions

  1. (a title for) a local government administrative officer (tasked with, among other things, police duties), (roughly) a sheriff

Ancestry of “länsman”, step by step

länsman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish lån

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishlånloan
2Old Swedishlän—
3Middle Low Germanlēn—
4Old Norselénfief, fee; royal grant or emoulement; royal...
5Middle Low Germanlehen—
6Proto-Germaniclaihnąthat which is lent, loan; fief
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleykʷ-to leave

via Swedish mån

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishmåndegree, quality, margin; desirous, eager;...
2Old Swedishman—
3Old NorseMǫnIsle of Man
4Old IrishManaMan, Anglesey
5Proto-Celticmoniyosmountain
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic laihną →Every word from Middle Low German lehen →