lean

lean · verb, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱley-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*hlināną“to lean, incline”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*hlinēn
4. Old English · inherited fromhleonian
5. Middle English · inherited fromlenen“to lean”
6. English todaylean

From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-. Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Middle Dutch leunen (“to lean”), German lehnen (“to lean”); via Proto-Indo-European with climate, cline.

lean · adjective, noun, verb²

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*hlainijaną“to cause to lean”
2. Old English · inherited fromhlǣne“lean”
3. Middle English · inherited fromlene“lean”
4. English todaylean

From Middle English lene (“lean”), from Old English hlǣne (“lean”), (cognate with Low German leen), perhaps from hlǣnan (“to cause to lean (due to hunger or lack of food)”), from Proto-Germanic *hlainijaną (“to cause to lean”). If so, then related to Old English hlinian, hleonian (“to lean”). Compare Old Norse linr (“mild; soft, limp; weak”), Old High German len (“mild”).

lean · noun³

Probably from the verb to lean (see Etymology 1 above), supposedly because consumption of the intoxicating beverage causes one to lean or sway. Alternatively, from a clipping of gasoline (“an alcoholic beverage made of vodka and energy drink”).

Lean · proper noun⁴

* As a Scottish Gaelic surname, reduced form of McLean. * As an English surname, from the adjective lean. * As a Chinese surname, from 林 (lín) (see Lin).

Words from the same roots