Where does “forework” come from?

forework (English) comes from English Fore, from German Fahr, from German Fähre, from Middle High German verren, from Old High German ferrana, from Old High German ferro, from Proto-West Germanic *ferrō, from Proto-Germanic ferrai — passed , crossed.

forework (English): A fortifying structure erected for defense, such...

Definitions

  1. A fortifying structure erected for defense, such...

Ancestry of “forework”, step by step

forework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Fore

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

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy
forework — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer