Where does “lockjaw” come from?

lockjaw (English) comes from English Lock, from Middle English lok, from Old English lāc, from Proto-West Germanic laik, from Proto-Germanic laikaz, from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- — to bind, tie.

lockjaw (English): A spasmodic, nervous system disease brought on by...

Definitions

  1. A spasmodic, nervous system disease brought on by...

Ancestry of “lockjaw”, step by step

lockjaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Lock

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishLockfrom the surname
2Middle Englishloklock
3Old Englishlācplay, sport, strife, battle, sacrifice, offering,...
4Proto-West Germaniclaikgame, sport
5Proto-Germaniclaikazdance; game, sport; hymn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleyǵ-to bind, tie

via English Jaw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishJawOne of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth
2Middle Englishjowejaw, jawbone
3Old Frenchjoecheek
4Vulgar Latin*ga(v)ota—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leyǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic laikaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic laik →