Etymograph

English

needle

Needle comes from Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- ‘to spin, twist’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)neh₁-‘to spin, twist’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)néh₁tlomreconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēþląreconstructed
  4. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēþlōreconstructed
  5. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*nāþlureconstructed
  6. Old Englishc. 450–1150nǣdl
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500nedle
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1892needle

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)neh₁-‘to spin, twist’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*(s)néh₁tlomreconstructed
  3. Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēþląreconstructed
  4. Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*nēþlōreconstructed
  5. Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*nāþlureconstructed
  6. Old Englishc. 450–1150nǣdl
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500nedle
  8. Englishearliest quotation 1892needle

Earliest quotation: 1892, H. Lindo Ferguson, Operation on Microphthamlmic Eyes: “[…]the eyes were once more beginning to show the…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- ‘to spin, twist’

nervous, nerve, nous, neuron, adder, nematode, sinew, nematic, 8 more

Today it means

noun A long, thin, sharp implement usually for piercing as in sewing, embroidery, acupuncture, tattooing, body piercing, medical injections, sutures, etc; or a blunt but otherwise similar implement used for forming loops or knots in crafts such as darning, knitting, tatting, etc.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₁- / needle

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