Where does “earlock” come from?

earlock (English) comes from English ear, from Middle English ēre, from Old English ēare, from Proto-West Germanic auʀā, from Proto-Germanic ausô, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

earlock (English): A lock of curly hair worn by the ear, often by...

Definitions

  1. A lock of curly hair worn by the ear, often by...

Ancestry of “earlock”, step by step

earlock traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ear

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishearThe organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna,...
2Middle EnglishēreThe ear organ that receives sound
3Old Englishēareear
4Proto-West Germanicauʀāear
5Proto-Germanicausôear
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ṓwsear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ew-to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...

via English Lock

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLockfrom the surname
2Middle Englishloklock
3Old Englishlācplay, sport, strife, battle, sacrifice, offering,...
4Proto-West Germaniclaikgame, sport
5Proto-Germaniclaikazdance; game, sport; hymn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵ-to bind, tie
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓwsEvery word from Proto-Germanic ausô