Where does “handweed” come from?

handweed (English) comes from English Hand, from Middle English hond, from Old English hand, from Proto-West Germanic handu, from Swedish hand, from Old Swedish hand, from Old Norse hǫnd, from Proto-Germanic handuz — hand.

handweed (English): To remove weeds using only hand tools, that is, without spraying or using other weed-suppression technology

Definitions

  1. To remove weeds using only hand tools, that is, without spraying or using other weed-suppression technology

Ancestry of “handweed”, step by step

handweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Hand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHandThe part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals
2Middle Englishhondhand; Alternative form of hound
3Old EnglishhandA hand
4Proto-West Germanichanduhand
5SwedishhandA hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player
6Old SwedishhandA hand; A direction; A behalf
7Old Norsehǫndhand
8Proto-Germanichanduzhand

via English weed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweedAny plant regarded as unwanted at the place...
2Middle Englishweed
3Old Englishwēodweed
4Proto-West Germanic*weudweed (unwanted plant)
Every word from Proto-Germanic handuzEvery word from Old Norse hǫndEvery word from Old Swedish hand
handweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer