Where does “needlestick” come from?

needlestick (English) comes from English needle, from Middle English nedle, from Old English nǣdl, from Proto-Germanic *nāþlu, from Proto-Germanic nēþlō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)neh₁- — to spin (thread), to sew.

needlestick (English): Puncture of the skin by a hypodermic needle or...

Definitions

  1. Puncture of the skin by a hypodermic needle or...

Ancestry of “needlestick”, step by step

needlestick traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English needle

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishneedleA fine, sharp implement usually for piercing such...
2Middle Englishnedleneedle
3Old Englishnǣdl—
4Proto-Germanic*nāþlu—
5Proto-Germanicnēþlōneedle
6Proto-Indo-European(s)neh₁-to spin (thread), to sew

via English stick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstickAn elongated piece of wood or similar material,...
2Middle Englishstikketwig, branch; kindling, twigs used as a...
3Old Englishsticcastick
4Proto-West Germanic*stikkōstick, pole
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)neh₁- →