Middle English word breiden comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrēǵ-, and later Old English bregdan (To move back and forth, vibrate, bend. To weave, braid.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *bʰrēǵ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *breh- | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | |
| *bregdaną | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To flicker, flutter, jerk, tug (on), twitch, flinch, move, swing. |
| bregdan | Old English (ang) | To move back and forth, vibrate, bend. To weave, braid. |
| brēdan | Old English (ang) | |
| braiden | Middle English (enm) |