Where does “patch-up” come from?

patch-up (English) comes from English up, from Middle English up, from Old English upp, from Proto-West Germanic *upp.

patch-up (English): The act of patching or repairing; An instance of...

Definitions

  1. The act of patching or repairing; An instance of...

Ancestry of “patch-up”, step by step

patch-up traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English up

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishupAway from the surface of the Earth or other...
2Middle Englishupto a vertical axis
3Old Englishuppup; upstairs
4Proto-West Germanic*upp—

via English patch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpatchA piece of cloth, or other suitable material,...
2Italianpazzocrazy, insane; madman
Every word from Proto-West Germanic *upp →Every word from Old English upp →Every word from Middle English up →
patch-up — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer