Where does “headwards” come from?

headwards (English) comes from English wards, from English ward, from Middle English ward, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar, from Proto-Germanic ahaz, from Proto-Finnic ahtas — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

headwards (English): Toward the head

Definitions

  1. Toward the head

Ancestry of “headwards”, step by step

headwards traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wards

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwardsplural of ward; Third-person singular simple...
2EnglishwardA warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman;...
3Middle Englishwardward, keeping
4Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
5Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
6Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
7Proto-Germanicahazear
8Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
9Proto-Balticanśtas
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

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 h₂enǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énǵʰusEvery word from Proto-Baltic anśtas