Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eyewash” come from?

eyewash (English) comes from English wash, from Middle English washen, from Old English wasċan, from Proto-West Germanic waskan, from Proto-Germanic waskaną, from Proto-Germanic watskaną, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

eyewash (English): A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes;...

Definitions

  1. A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes;...

Ancestry of “eyewash”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwashTo clean with water; To move or erode by the...
2Middle Englishwashen—
3Old Englishwasċan—
4Proto-West Germanicwaskanto wash
5Proto-Germanicwaskanąto wash
6Proto-Germanicwatskanąto wash, get wet
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →