Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “shrinkwrap” come from?

shrinkwrap (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.

shrinkwrap (English): A protective wrapping made from clear plastic...

Definitions

  1. A protective wrapping made from clear plastic...

Ancestry of “shrinkwrap”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshrinkTo cause to become smaller; To become smaller; to...
2Middle Englishschrynken—
3Old Englishsċrincanto shrivel up
4Proto-Germanicskrinkwanąto shrink, pull together, shrivel
5Proto-Indo-Europeansker-to jump; to turn, to bend; to turn, bend
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sker- →