Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gear” come from?

Gear comes from Middle English gere with the diminutive suffix -y, from Middle French -ie, from Latin -ium, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- meaning to fit or join.

gear (English): Equipment or paraphernalia, especially that used...

Definitions

  1. Equipment or paraphernalia, especially that used...

Ancestry of “gear”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishgereAlternative form of gery; Alternative form of...
2Old Norsegervigear
3Proto-Germanicgarwijanąto prepare
4Proto-Germanicgarwazready, prepared
5Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
8Middle Englishkyt—
9Germankitt—
10Old High Germankuti—
11Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
12Proto-Germanickweduzresin
13Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
14Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “gear”

  • headgear
  • gearbox
  • switchgear
  • footgear
  • raingear
  • gearless
  • gearstick
  • gearhead
  • ungear
  • gearset
  • nightgear
  • multigear
  • drawgear
  • neckgear
  • gearlike
  • gearwork
  • regear
  • nosegear
  • gearknob
  • gearjammer
  • foregear
  • gearmaker
  • geer
  • shoegear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →