Where does “bridewain” come from?

bridewain (English) comes from English wain, from Middle English wayn, from Old English wæġn, from Proto-West Germanic wagn, from Proto-Germanic wagnaz, from Proto-Indo-European woǵʰnos, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.

bridewain (English): A cart or waggon, loaded with household goods, conveyed from a bride's house to her new home; the bridal gifts transported upon such a wain

Definitions

  1. A cart or waggon, loaded with household goods, conveyed from a bride's house to her new home; the bridal gifts transported upon such a wain

Ancestry of “bridewain”, step by step

bridewain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwainA wagon; a four-wheeled cart for hauling loads,...
2Middle Englishwaynwain, wagon, cart; A war chariot; A plough or...
3Old Englishwæġnwagon
4Proto-West Germanicwagncart, wagon
5Proto-Germanicwagnazcart, wagon
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwoǵʰnoswagon, primitive carriage
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

via English bride

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbrideA woman in the context of her own wedding; one...
2Frenchbridebridle
3Middle Frenchbride
4Old Frenchbriderein, bridle
5Middle High Germanbrīdel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ-
bridewain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer