From Old English 'getwinn' (double), from PIE *dwoh₁ (two) — a direct relative of 'two' and 'twelve.'
One of two children or animals born at the same birth; something that is one of a closely matched or identical pair.
From Old English getwinn (double, twofold, a twin), from Proto-Germanic *twinjaz, from PIE *dwóh₁ (two). The ge- prefix in Old English was a collective or associative marker; getwinn meant the paired one, emphasizing the dyadic relationship rather than individuality. The PIE root *dwóh₁ (two) is among the most reconstructable numerals in the entire family, present in virtually every branch: Latin duo, Greek dyo, Sanskrit dvi-, Old Irish dó, Lithuanian du. Proto-Germanic *twinjaz used the suffix *-ina- (indicating a derived pair), which also