Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “matchwood” come from?

matchwood (English) comes from English match, from Middle English macche, from Old English ġemæċċa, from Old English ġemaca, from Old English ġe-, from Proto-West Germanic ga-, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

matchwood (English): wood, often in the form of splinters, suitable...

Definitions

  1. wood, often in the form of splinters, suitable...

Ancestry of “matchwood”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmatchA competitive sporting event such as a boxing...
2Middle Englishmacche—
3Old Englishġemæċċa—
4Old Englishġemacaa mate, an equal, companion, peer; companion,...
5Old Englishġe-—
6Proto-West Germanicga-used as an intensifier for verbs, indicating...
7Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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