Where does “crutch” come from?

Crutch comes from Middle English crucche, from Old English cryċċ, from Proto-Germanic krukjō, from Proto-Indo-European grewg-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ger- meaning to turn or bend.

crutch (English): A device to assist in motion as a cane,...

Definitions

  1. A device to assist in motion as a cane,...

Ancestry of “crutch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcrucchecrutch
2Old Englishcryċċcrutch, staff
3Proto-Germanickrukjōcurved staff; crutch
4Proto-Indo-Europeangrewg-wrinkle, bend; bend, wrinkle
5Indo-European*ger-—

Words derived from “crutch”

Every word from Indo-European *ger- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European grewg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic krukjō →