The Spanish word 'peine' (meaning 'comb') comes from the Latin word 'pectinem', which was the accusative form of 'pecten' (meaning 'comb'). This Latin noun 'pecten' was derived from the verb 'pectere', which meant 'to comb'. Over time, as Latin evolved into Spanish, 'pectinem' underwent phonetic changes, simplifying to become 'peine', while maintaining its original meaning of 'comb'.

While 'peine' itself is a relatively simple and common Spanish word, it has given rise to related words like 'peinar' (to comb) and 'peinado' (hairstyle). These words form a family of terms all related to the action of combing and hair care.

The English word 'pectinate', meaning 'having narrow parallel projections arranged like the teeth of a comb', comes from the same Latin root 'pecten'. Another related English word is 'pecten', which is used in scientific contexts to describe comb-like structures in anatomy and zoology, such as the pecten of the eye or the shell of a scallop, which has a distinctive comb-like pattern.