English
fennish
Fennish comes from Middle English fennisch ‘Fenny, marshy’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *pen- ‘moist, wet, mud, swamp, water’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pen-‘moist, wet, mud, swamp, water’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fanją‘fen, marsh, swamp’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fani‘fen, marsh, swamp’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fenn‘fen, marsh’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fen
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500fennisch‘Fenny, marshy’
- Englishtodayfennish
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pen-‘moist, wet, mud, swamp, water’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*fanją‘fen, marsh, swamp’reconstructed
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*fani‘fen, marsh, swamp’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150fenn‘fen, marsh’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500fen
- Middle English, derivedc. 1150–1500fennisch‘Fenny, marshy’
- Englishtodayfennish
Equivalent to fen + -ish
Proto-Indo-European *pen- ‘bog, mire’
Proto-Germanic *fanją ‘fen, marsh, swamp’
Proto-West Germanic *fani
Old English fenn
Middle English fen ‘fen, bog, swamp’
English fen
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pen- ‘moist, wet, mud, swamp, water’
penetrate, impenetrable, 1 more
through Middle English fen
Today it means
adj Abounding in fens; fenny.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pen- / fennish