Where does “edgework” come from?

edgework (English) comes from English work, from Middle English werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic werk, from Proto-Germanic werką, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.

edgework (English): Behaviour at the edge of what is normally allowed...

Definitions

  1. Behaviour at the edge of what is normally allowed...

Ancestry of “edgework”, step by step

edgework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English edge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishedgeThe boundary line of a surface; A one-dimensional...
2EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
3Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
4Old Englishwīswise
5Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ-
edgework — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer