Where does “downwell” come from?

downwell (English) comes from English well, from Middle English wellen, from Old English weallan, from Proto-Germanic wallaną, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

downwell (English): To sink below material of lower density

Definitions

  1. To sink below material of lower density

Ancestry of “downwell”, step by step

downwell traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English well

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwellAccurately, competently, satisfactorily;...
2Middle Englishwellento boil, to bubble
3Old Englishweallanto well
4Proto-Germanicwallanąto well up, spring out, bubble forth
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind

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 welH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-Every word from Proto-Germanic wallaną