Where does “facelock” come from?

facelock (English) comes from English Lock, from Middle English lok, from Old English lāc, from Proto-West Germanic laik, from Proto-Germanic laikaz, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- — to bind, tie.

facelock (English): A type of headlock in which the opponent's head is clamped around the face

Definitions

  1. A type of headlock in which the opponent's head is clamped around the face

Ancestry of “facelock”, step by step

facelock traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English face

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfaceThe front part of the head of a human or other...
2Middle Englishfaceface; Alternative form of fass
3Old Frenchfaceface
4Late Latinfacia—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- →
facelock — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer