Where does “derrickhand” come from?

derrickhand (English) comes from English Hand, from Middle English hond, from Old English hand, from Proto-West Germanic handu, from Swedish hand, from Old Swedish hand, from Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic handuz — hand.

derrickhand (English): A worker on an oil rig, working on a raised platform from which they guide instruments in and out of the well

Definitions

  1. A worker on an oil rig, working on a raised platform from which they guide instruments in and out of the well

Ancestry of “derrickhand”, step by step

derrickhand traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Hand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHandThe part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals
2Middle Englishhondhand; Alternative form of hound
3Old EnglishhandA hand
4Proto-West Germanichanduhand
5SwedishhandA hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player
6Old SwedishhandA hand; A direction; A behalf
7Old Norsehǫndhand
8Proto-Germanichanduzhand

via English derrick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishderrickA device that is used for lifting and moving...
Every word from Proto-Germanic handuzEvery word from Old Norse hǫndEvery word from Old Swedish hand