Where does “downweight” come from?

downweight (English) comes from English weight, from Middle English weight, from Old English wiht, from Latin Vectis, from Proto-Celtic wextā, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.

downweight (English): To give something a lower weight

Definitions

  1. To give something a lower weight

Ancestry of “downweight”, step by step

downweight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English weight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweightThe force on an object due to the gravitational...
2Middle Englishweight—
3Old Englishwihtcreature, person, thing, being; weight
4LatinVectisIsle of Wight
5Proto-Celticwextātime, course, turn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

via English Down

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishDownusually known as County Down
2Middle Englishdoundown
3Old Englishdūnhill, down; hill, dune; hill, mountain
4Proto-Germanic*dūnā—
5Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Celtic wextā →Every word from Latin Vectis →