Where does “gamebook” come from?

gamebook (English) comes from English game, from Middle English game, from Old English gamen, from Proto-West Germanic gaman, from Proto-Germanic gamaną, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

gamebook (English): A book of games, especially one with an...

Definitions

  1. A book of games, especially one with an...

Ancestry of “gamebook”, step by step

gamebook traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English game

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgameA playful or competitive activity; A video game;...
2Middle EnglishgameEntertainment or an instance of it; that which is...
3Old Englishgamengame, sport, or pastime; joy, mirth, or pleasure
4Proto-West Germanicgamanpleasure, fun, amusement, entertainment
5Proto-Germanicgamanąa fellow human, associate, companion; pleasure,...
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt
10Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
11Old High Germankuti
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via English Book

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBookthe Bible
2Germanbūchbook collection of sheets of paper bound together to hinge at one edge; long work fit for publication
3Middle High Germanbuoch
4Old High Germanbuohbook
5Proto-Germanicbōk
6Proto-Germanicbakanąto bake
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₃g-to bake, to roast, to fry
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
gamebook — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer