Where does “handshaking” come from?
Handshaking derives from English hand and Middle English schaken, which comes from Old English sċeacan, itself from Proto-Germanic hundą and ultimately Proto-Indo-European roots.
handshaking (English): present participle of handshake; A greeting by...
Definitions
- present participle of handshake; A greeting by...
Ancestry of “handshaking”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | handshake | The grasping of hands by two people when... |
| 2 | English | Hand | The part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals |
| 3 | Middle English | hond | hand; Alternative form of hound |
| 4 | Old English | hand | A hand |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | handu | hand |
| 6 | Swedish | hand | A hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player |
| 7 | Old Swedish | hand | A hand; A direction; A behalf |
| 8 | Old Norse | hǫnd | hand |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | handuz | hand |