spawn

spawn · verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromexpandere“stretch out; spread out”
2. Old French · derived fromespandre
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromespaundre
4. Middle English · inherited fromspawnen
5. English todayspawn

Recorded since 1413; from Middle English spawnen, from Anglo-Norman espaundre, from Old French espandre, from Latin expandere (“stretch out; spread out”, verb). Doublet of expand. Compare also Middle English spalden, spolden, spawden (“to cut open (a fish)”).

spawn · noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromspawne
2. English todayspawn

From Middle English spawne, from the verb (see above).

Words from the same roots