Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gunsight” come from?

gunsight (English) comes from English gun, from Middle English gunne, from Old Norse Gunnhildr, from Old Norse Gunnr, from Old Norse guðr, from Proto-Germanic gunþiz, from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰéntis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰen-.

gunsight (English): An optical instrument which establishes an...

Definitions

  1. An optical instrument which establishes an...

Ancestry of “gunsight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgunA device for projecting a hard object very...
2Middle EnglishgunneA trebuchet or similar kind of pellet-firing...
3Old NorseGunnhildr—
4Old NorseGunnr—
5Old Norseguðrbattle, war
6Proto-Germanicgunþizbattle
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷʰéntisstriking, killing
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷʰen-to strike, slay, kill
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰon-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰon- →