can

can · verb, interjection, particle¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*ǵneh₃-
2. Proto-Indo-European*ǵn̥néh₃ti
3. Proto-Germanic*kunnaną
4. Proto-West Germanic*kunnan
5. Old Englishcunnan
6. Middle Englishcan
7. English todaycan

From Middle English can, first and third person singular of connen, cunnen (“to be able, know how”), from Old English can(n), first and third person singular of cunnan (“to know how”), from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan, from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh₃- (whence also know). Doublet of con. See also: canny, cunning.

can · noun, verb²

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*kannǭ“can, tankard, mug, cup”
2. Old English · inherited fromcanne“glass, container, cup, jar”
3. Middle English · inherited fromcanne
4. English todaycan

From Middle English canne, from Old English canne (“glass, container, cup, jar”), from Proto-Germanic *kannǭ (“can, tankard, mug, cup”).

Can · proper noun³

1. Vietnamese · borrowed fromCần
2. Vietnamese · borrowed fromCần
3. English todayCan

Borrowed from Vietnamese Cần.

CAN · proper noun, noun⁴

Abbreviation

CAN · proper noun⁵

1. Spanish · borrowed fromCAN
2. Spanish · borrowed fromCAN
3. English todayCAN

Borrowed from Spanish CAN.

Words from the same roots