Where does “headstock” come from?

Headstock is a compound of head and stock, with stock deriving from Old English stocc, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning wooden post or log.

headstock (English): A headframe; A part of a machine that supports a...

Definitions

  1. A headframe; A part of a machine that supports a...

Ancestry of “headstock”, step by step

headstock traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English stock

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstockA store or supply; The capital raised by a...
2Italianstoccatahit with a sword, especially a tuck; thrust,...
3Italianstoccareto stock; to strike or thrust with a tuck or...
4Italianstoccotuck; A rapier, a sword; corn plant after cobs...
5Middle Dutchstōken
6Old Dutchstokon
7Proto-Germanicstukōnąto push, to thrust
8Proto-Indo-European(s)tewg-to push, to hit
9Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

via English head

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishheadThe part of the body of an animal or human which...
2English-yAdded to nouns and adjectives to form adjectives...
3Middle English-yDesignates an adjective, in many cases formed by...
4Old English-iġ-y, -ic
5Proto-West Germanic-gForms adjectives from nouns and verbs with a...
6Proto-Germanic-gaz-y
7Proto-Indo-European-ḱos-y, -ic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew-
headstock — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer