Where does “beamwidth” come from?

beamwidth (English) comes from English width, from English wide, from Old English wīd, from Proto-Germanic wīdaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁weydʰh₁os, from Proto-Indo-European dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ — two.

beamwidth (English): The width of a beam of radiation

Definitions

  1. The width of a beam of radiation

Ancestry of “beamwidth”, step by step

beamwidth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English width

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwidthThe state of being wide; The measurement of the...
2EnglishwideHaving a large physical extent from side to side;...
3Old Englishwīdwide, vast, broad, long; distant, far
4Proto-Germanicwīdazwide; broad
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁weydʰh₁osset apart, asunder, in two
6Proto-Indo-Europeandwi-two; apart, asunder
7Proto-Indo-Europeandwóh₁two

via English beam

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbeamAny large piece of timber or iron long in...
2Middle EnglishbeemA usually wooden beam or pole
3Old Englishbēamtree, cross, gallows, column, pillar, wood, beam,...
4Proto-West Germanicbaumtree; beam
5Proto-GermanicbaumazAlternative form of *bagmaz; tree, beam, balk;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁