levin

Meaning

Lightning; a bolt of lightning; also, a bright flame or light.

Synonyms

lightning

thunderbolt

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɛvɪn/

Etymology

From Middle English levene. Spellings in Middle English and Early Modern English include leven, levin, levyn, leiven, and leyven. The earlier etymology is less clear. It is thought to be related to Gothic 𐌻𐌰𐌿𐌷𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌹 (lauhmuni) (which see for some more), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewk- (“bright, to shine”). Possibly a regular reflex, possibly North Germanic loan, or possibly from a lost substrate.