Where does “forehand” come from?

Forehand comes from Middle English fore- combined with Old English hand, from Proto-Germanic hundą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱm̥tóm and per-.

forehand (English): A stroke in which the palm of the hand faces the...

Definitions

  1. A stroke in which the palm of the hand faces the...

Ancestry of “forehand”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishfore-Positioned at or near the front; Before; ahead or...
2EnglishForeA people of Papua New Guinea
3GermanFahr—
4GermanFähreferry
5Middle High Germanverren—
6Old High Germanferranafrom afar
7Old High Germanferroafar; skipper
8Proto-West Germanic*ferrō—
9Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
10Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
12Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “forehand”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy →