Lien

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German Low German

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Etymology

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From Middle Low German lîne, from Old Saxon *līna, from Proto-Germanic *līnǭ (line, rope, flaxen cord, thread), from *līną (flax).

Hypothesised to be derived from Proto-Indo-European *līno- (flax), although it's impossible to reconstruct a common PIE protoform due to discrepancies with other European branches and absence of cognates outside of Europe.

If originally a non-IE loanword, locating the source is impossible because cultivation of linen was widespread in the region since the Neolithic.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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Lien f (plural Lienen)

  1. line; cord