Where does “earplug” come from?

earplug (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...

earplug (English): A piece of protective gear meant to be inserted...

Definitions

  1. A piece of protective gear meant to be inserted...

Ancestry of “earplug”, step by step

earplug 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 plug

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishplugA pronged connecting device which fits into a...
2Dutchplugwall plug
3Dutchplugge
4Middle Dutchpluggepeg, plug
5Old Dutchpluggi
6Proto-Germanicplugjaz
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew-