Etymograph

English

sibling

Sibling comes from Old English sibling ‘relative, a relation, kinsman’.

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150sibling‘relative, a relation, kinsman’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1990same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Englishc. 450–1150sibling‘relative, a relation, kinsman’
  2. Englishearliest quotation 1990same form

Earliest quotation: 1990, P. Hutter et al.: “D. simulans, D. mauritiana and D. sechellia (which we…”

Formed from sib + -ling

Proto-Indo-European *sebʰ-

Proto-Germanic *sibjaz ‘related’

Old English sibb ‘related, akin, sib’

Middle English sib

English sib

The story

First use appears c. 1903, a modern revival of Old English sibling (‘relative, a relation, kinsman’), equivalent to sib + -ling. The term apparently meant merely kin or relative until the 20th century when it was applied in a way that aided the study of genetics, which led to its specialized use. For example, the OED has a citation in 1902 in which sibling must be defined for those who do not know the intended meaning.

Every English word from Old English sibling

Today it means

noun A person who shares a parent; one's brother or sister who one shares a parent with.

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

Etymograph / Old English sibling / sibling

Shirt and support for this word