Where does “shrink-wrap” come from?

shrink-wrap (English) comes from English shrink, from Middle English schrynken, from Old English sċrincan, from Proto-Germanic skrinkwaną, from Proto-Indo-European sker- — to jump; to turn, to bend; to turn, bend.

shrink-wrap (English): A plastic film that is used to protect an item and which during application contracts so it tightly enclose it

Definitions

  1. A plastic film that is used to protect an item and which during application contracts so it tightly enclose it

Ancestry of “shrink-wrap”, step by step

shrink-wrap traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English shrink

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshrinkTo cause to become smaller; To become smaller; to...
2Middle EnglishschrynkenTo shrivel up or wrinkle; to contract
3Old Englishsċrincanto shrivel up
4Proto-Germanicskrinkwanąto shrink, pull together, shrivel
5Proto-Indo-Europeansker-to jump; to turn, to bend; to turn, bend

via English wrap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwrapTo enclose completely in any flexible, thin...
2Middle Englishwrappe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sker-
shrink-wrap — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer