Where does “oarlock” come from?
oarlock (English) comes from English oar, from Middle English ore, from Old English ār, from Proto-West Germanic aiʀu, from Proto-Germanic aizō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂oys-éh₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eys- — to wish; to request.
oarlock (English): A device attached to the gunwale of a rowboat to...
Definitions
- A device attached to the gunwale of a rowboat to...
Ancestry of “oarlock”, step by step
oarlock traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English oar
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | oar | A type of lever used to propel a boat, having a... |
| 2 | Middle English | ore | Alternative form of oure; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old English | ār | honour, help, pardon; honor, worth, dignity,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | aiʀu | honour; respect, reverence |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | aizō | fear; reverence; honour |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂oys-éh₂ | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eys- | to wish; to request |
via English Lock
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Lock | from the surname |
| 2 | Middle English | lok | lock |
| 3 | Old English | lāc | play, sport, strife, battle, sacrifice, offering,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | laik | game, sport |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | laikaz | dance; game, sport; hymn |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leyǵ- | to bind, tie |
via Old English ārlōc
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | ārlōc | — |