English word lien comes from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-, Latin -men (Forms neuter nouns of the third declension.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *leyǵ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| -men | Latin (lat) | Forms neuter nouns of the third declension. |
| ligandus | Latin (lat) | |
| ligamen | Latin (lat) | (Medieval Latin) poultice; bandage with herbal medicine. A bandage, band, tie. |
| lien | Old French (fro) | Tie; strap. |
| lien | Middle French (frm) | (by extension) link (association). Tie; strap. |
| lien | English (eng) | (legal) A legal claim; a charge upon real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty.. (obsolete) A tendon. |