Etymology Map
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Bone

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means one of the hard parts of the skeleton

Where does the word "bone" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic bainą, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
bainą
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"bone"
German 'Bein' now means leg
2
Stage 2 of 3
bān
Old English · 700s-1000s
"bone"
'bānhūs', bone-house, was a poetic word for the body
3
Stage 3 of 3
bone
English · 1500s
"bone"
'bonfire' was originally a 'bone fire', for burning bones
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Read the full story

Bone’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: bainą meant “bone.” German 'Bein' now means leg. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as bān. 'bānhūs', bone-house, was a poetic word for the body. It reached English by 1500s as bone. 'bonfire' was originally a 'bone fire', for burning bones. Today, bone means one of the hard parts of the skeleton.