Where does “stiftpenna” come from?

stiftpenna (Swedish) comes from Swedish penna, from Latin penna, from Proto-Italic petnā, from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥, from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- — to spread out; to fly.

stiftpenna (Swedish): US a mechanical pencil, UK a retractable pencil, Australia a pacer

Definitions

  1. US a mechanical pencil, UK a retractable pencil, Australia a pacer

Ancestry of “stiftpenna”, step by step

stiftpenna traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish penna

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishpennaa contour feather, a penna; a quill, a feather...
2Latinpennawing; feather, especially a flight-feather;...
3Proto-Italicpetnāfeather; wing
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpéth₂r̥wing; feather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeth₂-to spread out; to fly

via Swedish stift

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishstifta pin, a needle; a drawing utensil, an engraver's...
2Middle Low Germanstift—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peth₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European péth₂r̥ →Every word from Proto-Italic petnā →