Etymology is a science revealing associations. Very basic, concrete words are easy to name, while words denoting more abstract or constructed things are often named by association from concrete, easy to understand words.
In English, pen = "writing implement," c.1300, from O.Fr. penne "quill pen, feather," from L. penna "feather," from PIE *petna-, suffixed form of root *pet- "to rush, fly" (source).
In Russian, pen (ручка) is diminutive from 'рука' (hand, arm) making it something like 'a small hand/arm'.
This way, languages = idea pools/association ranges
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