Where does “ridgehand” come from?

ridgehand (English) comes from English ridge, from Middle English rigge, from Old English hryċġ, from Old English tūn, from Proto-West Germanic tūn, from Proto-Germanic tūną, from Gaulish dunum, from Proto-Celtic dūnom — smoke; mist, haze.

ridgehand (English): A striking surface formed by tucking the thumb of...

Definitions

  1. A striking surface formed by tucking the thumb of...

Ancestry of “ridgehand”, step by step

ridgehand traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ridge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishridgeThe back of any animal; especially the upper or...
2Middle Englishrigge
3Old Englishhryċġridge; back, spine, ridge, elevated surface
4Old Englishtūnenclosure, yard; place; dwelling
5Proto-West Germanictūnfence
6Proto-Germanictūnąfence; enclosure
7Gaulishdunumfort; hill, hillfort
8Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

via English Hand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHandThe part of the forelimb below the forearm or wrist in a human, and the corresponding part in many other animals
2Middle Englishhondhand; Alternative form of hound
3Old EnglishhandA hand
4Proto-West Germanichanduhand
5SwedishhandA hand; A hand; the set of cards held by a player
6Old SwedishhandA hand; A direction; A behalf
7Old Norsehǫndhand
8Proto-Germanichanduzhand
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂-
ridgehand — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer