Where does “doorknob” come from?

Doorknob comes from English door and knob, with door tracing through Middle English dore and Old English dora to Proto-Germanic durz and Proto-Indo-European dʰwer-.

doorknob (English): A circular device attached to a door, the...

Definitions

  1. A circular device attached to a door, the...

Ancestry of “doorknob”, step by step

doorknob traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English door

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdoorA portal of entry into a building, room, or...
2Middle EnglishdoreA door or gate structure barring an entrance
3Old Englishdorabumblebee
4Proto-Germanicdurôbumblebee, humming insect
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via English knob

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishknobA rounded protuberance, especially one arising...
2Middle Englishknobbeknob; lump, bump
3Middle Low Germanknobbelump, knot; knob; knot in wood

Words derived from “doorknob”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →