Where does “downwelling” come from?

downwelling (English) comes from English welling, 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.

downwelling (English): The sinking of a higher-density medium through a lower-density one

Definitions

  1. The sinking of a higher-density medium through a lower-density one

Ancestry of “downwelling”, step by step

downwelling traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English welling

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwellingpresent participle of well; The act of something...
2EnglishwellAccurately, competently, satisfactorily;...
3Middle Englishwellento boil, to bubble
4Old Englishweallanto well
5Proto-Germanicwallanąto well up, spring out, bubble forth
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
7Proto-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-