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
- A soothing medicated lotion for the eyes;...
Ancestry of “eyewash”, step by step
eyewash traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English wash
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wash | To clean with water; To move or erode by the... |
| 2 | Middle English | washen | — |
| 3 | Old English | wasċan | to wash |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | waskan | to wash |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | waskaną | to wash |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | watskaną | to wash, get wet |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wed- | water |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |
via English Eye
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Eye | A place name |
| 2 | English | -some | Characterized by some specific condition or... |
| 3 | Middle English | -som | some; having a specific quality |
| 4 | Old English | sum | some |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *sum | some |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | sumaz | some (one), a certain (one) |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |