Where does “failproof” come from?

failproof (English) comes from English proof, from Middle English proof, from Old French prove, from Latin proba, from Latin probāre, from Latin probō, from Latin Probus, from Proto-Indo-European pro-bhwo- — passed , crossed.

failproof (English): Resistant to failure; that cannot go wrong

Definitions

  1. Resistant to failure; that cannot go wrong

Ancestry of “failproof”, step by step

failproof traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English proof

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishproofAn effort, process, or operation designed to...
2Middle Englishproof
3Old Frenchprove
4Latinprobatest, trial; proof, evidence
5Latinprobāre
6Latinprobōto approve, permit, commend
7LatinProbusgood, serviceable, excellent, superior, able
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-bhwo-being in front, prominent
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English fail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfailTo be unsuccessful; Not to achieve a particular...
2Middle Englishfailen
3Anglo-Normanfailliralternative infinitive of falir; to fail, err
4Vulgar Latinfallire
5Latinfallōto deceive, beguile, trick, cheat, delude, ensnare, disappoint
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰwel-to bend; to lie, deceive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós
failproof — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer