Where does “ringworld” come from?

ringworld (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.

ringworld (English): An artificial megastructure in space, consisting...

Definitions

  1. An artificial megastructure in space, consisting...

Ancestry of “ringworld”, step by step

ringworld 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 World

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWorldThe specific world, or any of several specific constituent worlds, that humans live in, among any other (real or possible) worlds
2Middle EnglishworldThe world, the planet; A dimension, realm, or...
3Old Englishweoroldworld
4Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
5Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
6Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
8Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek-
ringworld — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer