Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-wad” come from?

-wad (English) comes from English wad, from Middle English wadmal, from Old Norse váðmál, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “-wad”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwadAn amorphous, compact mass; A substantial pile; A...
2Middle Englishwadmalwoolen cloth
3Old Norseváðmálwoolen stuff
4Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “-wad”

  • dickwad
  • fuckwad
  • jerkwad
  • dipwad
  • slimewad
  • dirtwad
  • sleazewad
  • cockwad
  • scumwad
  • dorkwad
  • geekwad
  • clitwad
  • douchewad
  • asswad
  • prickwad
  • slutwad
  • bitchwad
  • gaywad
  • shitwad
  • pukewad
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →