inn
/ɪn/
noun
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*inną — dwelling or house
Overview
Meaning Now
- A commercial establishment that provides lodging, food, and drink, especially one located in the countryside or along a road.
Literal older meaning
dwelling or house
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → English
Earliest form
inn
Earliest period
Old English
Journey
The word originated from the Germanic adverbial 'in', implying a place one goes into or dwells. Historically, an inn was synonymous with a lodging or household, eventually narrowing to specifically commercial establishments serving travelers by the 14th century.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*inną
“dwelling”
- Old English
inn
“dwelling; chamber”
- Middle English
inne
“lodging; house”
- Modern English
inn
“lodging establishment”
Connections
Word parts
inn
root
dwelling
Related across languages
Old Norse
inni
dwelling
German
innen
within/inside
Explore next
Related to inn
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.