Where does “sand timer” come from?

sand timer (English) comes from English timer, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

sand timer (English): An instrument for measuring the passage of time by the passage of sand through a narrow opening

Definitions

  1. An instrument for measuring the passage of time by the passage of sand through a narrow opening

Ancestry of “sand timer”, step by step

sand timer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English timer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtimerSomeone or something which times; A device used...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English sand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsandRock that is ground more finely than gravel, but...
2Middle EnglishsondAlternative form of sand
3Old Englishsandaction of sending, embassy, mission, deputation;...
4Norwegian Nynorsksamdin agreement
5Proto-Germanicsamdazsand
6Proto-Indo-Europeansámh₂dʰossand
7Proto-Indo-Europeansem-together, one
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti
sand timer — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer