Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “handwork” come from?

Handwork derives from Middle English hondwerk, from Old English handweorc, from Proto-Germanic handuwerką, combining hand with werką meaning work, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom.

handwork (English): Work done by the hands, as opposed to by machine;...

Definitions

  1. Work done by the hands, as opposed to by machine;...

Ancestry of “handwork”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishhondwerkThe fruits of handwork or handiwork; a product or...
2Old Englishhandweorchandiwork, handwork; creation
3Proto-Germanichanduwerkąhandwork; manual labour; handiwork, creation
4Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →