Etymology

Probably formed within English on a borrowing of the ON v. represented by OIcel kynda 'kindle, light a fire' (attested, but rare in ME: see kynd (v.)) + -le suffix; cp. MHG künten 'kindle', of obscure ulterior origin. There could also be some influence from the n. represented by OIcel kyndill  'candle, torch'; and on the possibility of influence also from ME kindelen 'give birth' see Dance 2002: 8-12.

PGmc Ancestor

*kunđjan-

Proposed ON Etymon (OIcel representative)

kynda 'kindle, light a fire'; cp. kyndill (n.) 'candle, torch'
(ONP kynda (vb.); cp. kyndill (sb.))

Other Scandinavian Reflexes

OE Cognate

Phonological and morphological markers

Summary category

B2

Attestation

First attested in The Orrmulum, and common and widespread thereafter, incl. Chaucer and Gower. See also kynd (v.).

Occurrences in the Gersum Corpus

WA 149, 166, 1730 etc.

The A MS of WA has the variant kynd (v.) at 2247.

Bibliography