Vein
/veɪn/noun
A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart; also, a streak, seam, or distinctive line in a substance.
Did you know?English *vein* comes through Old French and Latin from a root connected to flowing, which is why the same ancient word-family also gave us *venous* and *venom*—both historically tied to bodily fluids and their power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weyh₁-
“to flow, go, or move”
Latin
Latin
vēna
“a vein; a blood vessel; a channel or seam”
Old French
Old French
veine
“a vein; a streak or vein in stone or wood”
Middle English
English
vein
“a blood vessel; a streak or seam”
Modern English
English
vein
“a blood vessel; a streak, seam, or distinctive line”