Where does “chainfall” come from?

chainfall (English) comes from English fall, from Middle English fall, from Old English feall, from Proto-Germanic fallą, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pōl- — to fall.

chainfall (English): A chain laid across a beam or similar, used as part of a hoist for lifting objects

Definitions

  1. A chain laid across a beam or similar, used as part of a hoist for lifting objects

Ancestry of “chainfall”, step by step

chainfall traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English fall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishfall"To be moved downwards."; "To move downwards.";...
2Middle Englishfall—
3Old EnglishfeallAlternative form of fiell
4Proto-Germanicfallą—
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pōl-to fall

via English chain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishchainA series of interconnected rings or links usually...
2Middle EnglishcheyneA chain; a series of links made of metal,...
3Old Frenchchaine—
4Latincatēnachain
5Proto-Indo-Europeankat-cub; to weave, to braid; to link or weave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pōl- →Every word from Proto-Germanic fallą →Every word from Old English feall →