Where does “housewrecker” come from?

housewrecker (English) comes from English wrecker, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

housewrecker (English): A person who demolishes old houses and salvages materials from them

Definitions

  1. A person who demolishes old houses and salvages materials from them

Ancestry of “housewrecker”, step by step

housewrecker traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wrecker

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwreckerA person or company that dismantles old or...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti
housewrecker — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer