Where does “safecracking” come from?

safecracking (English) comes from English cracking, from Middle English crakynge, from Middle English craken, from Old English cracian, from Old Dutch krakōn, from Proto-Indo-European gerg-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

safecracking (English): The act of defeating the security mechanisms of a...

Definitions

  1. The act of defeating the security mechanisms of a...

Ancestry of “safecracking”, step by step

safecracking traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English cracking

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrackingThe thermal decomposition of a substance,...
2Middle Englishcrakyngecracking
3Middle Englishcrakento crack, break open
4Old Englishcracianto resound; to crack
5Old Dutchkrakōnto crack, creak, emit a cry
6Proto-Indo-Europeangerg-to shout; tracery, basket, twist; wicker, bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

via English safe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsafeNot in danger; out of harm's reach; Free from...
2Middle EnglishsaufNot having experienced harm, damage, or ill...
3Old Frenchsauf
4Latinsalvussafe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,...
5Proto-Italic*salawoswhole
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂wós
7Proto-Indo-Europeansōlh₂-mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gerg-Every word from Old Dutch krakōn