Where does “click wheel” come from?

click wheel (English) comes from English click, from Middle English cleken, from Middle English clechen, from Old English clēċan, from Old English clyċċan, from Proto-Germanic klukjaną, from Proto-Germanic klu-, from Proto-Indo-European glew- — to swallow; swallow.

click wheel (English): The combination button/scroll wheel selection...

Definitions

  1. The combination button/scroll wheel selection...

Ancestry of “click wheel”, step by step

click wheel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English click

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishclickA brief, sharp, not particularly loud, relatively...
2Middle Englishclekento seize, clutch; to hatch
3Middle Englishclechento grab
4Old Englishclēċan
5Old Englishclyċċanto clutch, clench
6Proto-Germanicklukjaną
7Proto-Germanicklu-to ball up, conglomerate, amass
8Proto-Indo-Europeanglew-Alternative form of *gley-; to amass,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

via English wheel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwheelA circular device capable of rotating on its...
2Middle EnglishwhelA wheel circular device for motion
3Old Englishhwēolwheel
4Proto-Germanichweulōnominative/vocative/accusative plural of *hwehwlą
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷléh₂
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European glew-Every word from Proto-Germanic klu-
click wheel — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer