Where does “knightwise” come from?

knightwise (English) comes from English wise, from Middle English wys, from Old English wīs, from Proto-Germanic wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European weydstos, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

knightwise (English): Two steps in the vertical direction and one step in the horizontal direction, or vice versa, with each move, in the manner of a chess knight

Definitions

  1. Two steps in the vertical direction and one step in the horizontal direction, or vice versa, with each move, in the manner of a chess knight

Ancestry of “knightwise”, step by step

knightwise traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wise

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
2Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
3Old Englishwīswise
4Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

via English Knight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishKnightfor someone who was a mounted soldier
2Middle Englishknightknight
3Old Englishcnihtboy; servant, attendant; male of high military...
4Proto-West Germanicknehtyouth, boy; servant, knight
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European weydstos →Every word from Proto-Germanic wīsaz →