Where does “knifework” come from?
knifework (English) comes from English work, from Middle English werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic werk, from Proto-Germanic werką, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.
knifework (English): artistic or ornamental work done with a knife
Definitions
- artistic or ornamental work done with a knife
Ancestry of “knifework”, step by step
knifework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English work
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | work | "Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to... |
| 2 | Middle English | werk | work |
| 3 | Old English | weorc | work, in various senses, including |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | werk | work |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | werką | work |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wérǵom | work |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | werǵ- | to make |
via English knife
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | knife | A utensil or a tool designed for cutting,... |
| 2 | Middle English | knyf | A knife as a tool or instrument; the following... |
| 3 | Old English | cnīf | knife |
| 4 | Old Norse | knífr | knife |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | knībaz | pincers; shears; knife |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | knīpaną | to pinch |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵneybʰ- | — |