Where does “rigging” come from?

Rigging derives from English rig, which comes from English ring, ultimately from Proto-Germanic hringijaną and Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning to turn or bend.

rigging (English): Dress; tackle; especially, the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a sailing vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc

Definitions

  1. Dress; tackle; especially, the ropes, chains, etc., that support the masts and spars of a sailing vessel, and serve as purchases for adjusting the sails, etc

Ancestry of “rigging”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishriggyng
Every word from Middle English riggyng