Where does “brushwork” come from?

Brushwork derives from English brush and work, with work tracing through Middle English werk and Old English wyrċan to Proto-Germanic wurkijaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- meaning to do or perform.

brushwork (English): The technique or practice of applying and...

Definitions

  1. The technique or practice of applying and...

Ancestry of “brushwork”, step by step

brushwork traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Brush

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBrushAn implement consisting of multiple more or less flexible bristles or other filaments attached to a handle, used for any of various purposes including cleaning, painting, and arranging hair
2Middle Englishbrusshe
3Old Frenchbroisse
4Vulgar Latinbrustia
5Icelandicburstibrush
6Proto-Germanicburstizbristle
7Proto-Germanicbʰurstís
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰr̥s-tí-s
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰers-top, tip, point

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰers-