Where does “scarfwise” come from?
scarfwise (English) comes from English scarf, from Old Norse skarfr, from Proto-Germanic skarf-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)gʷʰh₂el- — to stumble.
scarfwise (English): In the manner of a scarf
Definitions
- In the manner of a scarf
Ancestry of “scarfwise”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | scarf | A long, often knitted, garment worn around the... |
| 2 | Old Norse | skarfr | cormorant, shag (bird of the family Phalacrocoracidae) |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | skarf- | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)gʷʰh₂el- | to stumble |