Where does “grottowork” come from?

grottowork (English) comes from English work, from Middle English werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic werk, from Proto-Germanic werką, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.

grottowork (English): artificial ornamental rockwork in imitation of a...

Definitions

  1. artificial ornamental rockwork in imitation of a...

Ancestry of “grottowork”, step by step

grottowork traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

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

via English grotto

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgrottoA small cave; An artificial cavern-like retreat;...
2Italiangrottacave; grotto
3Medieval Latingrupta
4Latincryptaunderground passage, tunnel; crypt; underground...
5Ancient Greekκρυπτόςconcealed, hidden, secret
6Ancient Greekκρύπτωto hide, cover; to conceal, obscure
7Proto-Indo-Europeankrāu-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵomEvery word from Proto-Germanic werką