Where does “corkscrew” come from?

Corkscrew derives from English screw, which comes from Middle English screw, borrowed from Middle Dutch curc.

corkscrew (English): An implement for opening bottles that are sealed...

Definitions

  1. An implement for opening bottles that are sealed...

Ancestry of “corkscrew”, step by step

corkscrew traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English screw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscrewA device that has a helical function; The motion...
2Middle Englishscrew—
3Old Frenchescrouenut, cylindrical socket, screwhole; scroll, strip...
4Latinscrofasow
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kerbʰ-to scratch, scrape
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

via English Cork

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishCork(County Cork)
2Middle Englishcorkoak bark, cork
3Middle Dutchcurccork
4Spanishcorchocork
5LatincortexThe bark of a tree; the bark of a cork tree;...
6Proto-Indo-European*(s)kort-ek-s—

Words derived from “corkscrew”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →