Where does “ringleading” come from?

ringleading (English) comes from English ring, from Middle English ryng, from Old English hring, from Proto-West Germanic hring, from Proto-Germanic hringaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)krengʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

ringleading (English): Acting as ringleader; heading a group of people

Definitions

  1. Acting as ringleader; heading a group of people

Ancestry of “ringleading”, step by step

ringleading traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ring

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishringA solid object in the shape of a circle; A group...
2Middle Englishryngring
3Old Englishhringring
4Proto-West Germanichringring, circle
5Proto-Germanichringazring, circle; curve; sound, ring
6Proto-Indo-European(s)krengʰ-to turn, bend
7Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
8Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

via English leading

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishleadingpresent participle of lead; Providing guidance or...
2Middle Englishledinge
3Old Englishlǣdende
4Proto-Germaniclaidijandz
5Proto-Germaniclaidijanąto cause to go, to lead
6Proto-Germaniclīþanąto go; pass; to go through
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleyt-to scratch; to leave, die; to go, go forth, die
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlēy-to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek-Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)krengʰ-