Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “beadwork” come from?

Beadwork comes from English bead combined with work, which derives from Middle English werk, Old English wyrċan, Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, and Proto-Indo-European wreg-, meaning to turn or twist.

beadwork (English): Decorative work involving beads

Definitions

  1. Decorative work involving beads

Ancestry of “beadwork”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbeadPrayer, later especially with a rosary; Each in a...
2Middle Englishbēdeprayer, request, supplication, order, command,...
3Old Englishgebedprayer, religious observance
4Proto-West Germanicgabedprayer
5Proto-West Germanicga-used as an intensifier for verbs, indicating...
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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