Where does “brownwash” come from?

brownwash (English) comes from English wash, from Middle English washen, from Old English wasċan, from Proto-West Germanic waskan, from Proto-Germanic waskaną, from Proto-Germanic watskaną, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

brownwash (English): To rebrand, cover up or divert attention from amoral, illicit or criminal activities by establishing partnerships or connections with legitimate, value-based organizations e.g. NGOs

Definitions

  1. To rebrand, cover up or divert attention from amoral, illicit or criminal activities by establishing partnerships or connections with legitimate, value-based organizations e.g. NGOs

Ancestry of “brownwash”, step by step

brownwash traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wash

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwashTo clean with water; To move or erode by the...
2Middle Englishwashen
3Old Englishwasċanto wash
4Proto-West Germanicwaskanto wash
5Proto-Germanicwaskanąto wash
6Proto-Germanicwatskanąto wash, get wet
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

via English Brown

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBrownAlternative letter-case form of brown
2Middle Englishbroundark, dull, murky; brown; brown-haired
3Old EnglishBrūnbrown
4Proto-Germanicbrūnazbrown
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰerH-to pierce; to strike; brown
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wed-Every word from Proto-Germanic watskaną
brownwash — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer