rain

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

Rain’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: regną meant “rain.” German 'Regen' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as regn. 'regnboga', rain-bow, was already the Old English word for a rainbow. It reached English by 1500s as rain. 'raining cats and dogs' is recorded from the 1600s. Today, rain means water falling from the clouds in drops.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient regną "rain", German 'Regen' is a cousin.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s regn "rain", 'regnboga', rain-bow, was already the Old English word for a rainbow.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s rain "rain", 'raining cats and dogs' is recorded from the 1600s.