Where does “screw” come from?

Screw derives from Middle English screw, though its ultimate origin and earliest meaning remain uncertain.

screw (English): A device that has a helical function; The motion...

Definitions

  1. A device that has a helical function; The motion...

Ancestry of “screw”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishscrew—
2Old Frenchescrouenut, cylindrical socket, screwhole; scroll, strip...
3Latinscrofasow
4Proto-Indo-European(s)kerbʰ-to scratch, scrape
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ker-to cut off; to turn, bend
6Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever

Words derived from “screw”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kerbʰ- →