Where does “nosework” come from?

nosework (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.

nosework (English): The use of the sense of smell (usually of a dog) to track down targets

Definitions

  1. The use of the sense of smell (usually of a dog) to track down targets

Ancestry of “nosework”, step by step

nosework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English nose

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnoseA protuberance on the face housing the nostrils,...
2Middle Englishnōsenose
3Old FrenchnousAlternative form of nos
4Latinnōswe, us
5Proto-Italicnōswe
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwéywe
7Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ-