Lien

See also: lien, lieň, líen, liền, and liên

German Low German

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈliːn/

Noun

Lien f (plural Lienen)

1. line; cord