Where does “balanceman” come from?

balanceman (English) comes from English balance, from Middle English balaunce, from Old French balance, from Late Latin bilancia, from Latin bilanx, from Latin bi-, from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos — to turn.

balanceman (English): A man employed to sit on the trunk of a tree while it is transported and keep it horizontal

Definitions

  1. A man employed to sit on the trunk of a tree while it is transported and keep it horizontal

Ancestry of “balanceman”, step by step

balanceman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English balance

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbalanceA state in which opposing forces harmonise;...
2Middle EnglishbalaunceA set of scales; a balance; The ensuring of...
3Old Frenchbalancescales (weighing scales)
4Late Latinbilancia
5Latinbilanxhaving two scales; a balance with two scalepans
6Latinbi-having two parts; occurring twice
7Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

via English MAN

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMANInitialism of Metropolitan Area Network
2EnglishmanualA handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage...
3Middle Englishmanuel
4Anglo-Normanmanuelmanual; done with the hands; handle; manual;...
5Old Frenchmanual
6Latinmanuālishand
7Latinmanushand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting
8Proto-Italicmanushand
9Proto-Indo-Europeanman-human being; man; hand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-