Where does “pullstring” come from?

pullstring (English) comes from English string, from Middle English string, from Old English streng, from Proto-Germanic strangiz, from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European ster- — sterile, infertile.

pullstring (English): A cord that activates or releases something when pulled

Definitions

  1. A cord that activates or releases something when pulled

Ancestry of “pullstring”, step by step

pullstring traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English string

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstringA long, thin and flexible structure made from...
2Middle Englishstring—
3Old Englishstrengstring
4Proto-Germanicstrangizstring
5Proto-Indo-Europeanstrengʰ-to twist; rope, cord
6Proto-Indo-Europeanster-sterile, infertile

via English pull

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpullTo apply a force to so that it comes toward the...
2Middle Englishpullento pull
3Irish-aíEnding of the plural of certain nouns; Agent...
4Old Irish-ide—
5Old Irish-deUsed to form adjectives from nouns, denoting...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ster- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European strengʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic strangiz →