Ling
/lɪŋ/noun
A long, slender marine fish of the cod family found in the North Atlantic and nearby waters.
Did you know?The fish’s name comes from the same ancient Germanic root as “long,” apparently referring to its notably elongated body.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dlongʰos
“Long; extended in space”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*langō
“A long object or something elongated”
Old Norse
Old Norse
langa
“Ling, the long-bodied fish”
Middle English
Middle English
ling
“A marine fish, recorded from the late 14th century”
Modern English
English
ling
“A long, slender codlike fish of the North Atlantic”