Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cartwheel” come from?

cartwheel (English) comes from English wheel, from Middle English whel, from Old English hwēol, from Proto-Germanic hweulō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷléh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

cartwheel (English): The literal wheel of a cart; A gymnastic maneuver...

Definitions

  1. The literal wheel of a cart; A gymnastic maneuver...

Ancestry of “cartwheel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwheelA circular device capable of rotating on its...
2Middle Englishwhel—
3Old Englishhwēol—
4Proto-Germanichweulōnominative/vocative/accusative plural of *hwehwlą
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷléh₂—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “cartwheel”

  • cartwheeler
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →