Stain
/steɪn/noun
A mark or discoloration that is difficult to remove.
Did you know?English stain is not related to “sinister” magic, but it does share a deep Germanic history with words for blotting and discoloration that made marks feel almost like a lasting wound.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sta-
“to stand, make or be firm”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*stainaz
“a stain, spot, or blot”
Old English
OE
stǣn
“a stain, blemish, or discoloration”
Middle English
Middle English
stain
“a mark, blemish, or discoloration”
Modern English
English
stain
“a mark or discoloration that is difficult to remove”