Where does “balanceweight” come from?

balanceweight (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.

Ancestry of “balanceweight”, step by step

balanceweight 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 weight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweightThe force on an object due to the gravitational...
2Middle Englishweight
3Old Englishwihtcreature, person, thing, being; weight
4LatinVectisIsle of Wight
5Proto-Celticwextātime, course, turn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-