Where does “keyword” come from?

Keyword derives from English word and worth, Spanish cayo, Proto-Germanic wurdą, and Proto-Indo-European wer-, originally meaning to turn or bend.

keyword (English): Any word used as the key to a code; Any word used...

Definitions

  1. Any word used as the key to a code; Any word used...

Ancestry of “keyword”, step by step

keyword traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Word

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWordScripture; The Bible; The creative word of God;...
2EnglishworthHaving a value of; proper to be exchanged for;...
3Middle Englishworthto become
4Old Englishweorþworth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,...
5Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via English key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island

Words derived from “keyword

Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer-