Etymology Explorer › English

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

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 turn, curve; to turn , wind; to turn around,...
6Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

Words derived from “corkscrew”

  • corkscrewlike
  • corkscrewy
  • コルクスクリュー
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →