Where does “sidestroke” come from?

sidestroke (English) comes from English Side, from Middle English side, from Old English sīde, from Proto-West Germanic *sīdā, from Medieval Latin sida, from Late Latin seta, from Latin saeta, from Proto-Italic saitā — to satiate, satisfy.

sidestroke (English): A swimming stroke swum on the swimmer's side

Definitions

  1. A swimming stroke swum on the swimmer's side

Ancestry of “sidestroke”, step by step

sidestroke traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Side

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSideA bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdāside
5Medieval Latinsida
6Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
7Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
8Proto-Italicsaitā
9Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-
10Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy

via English stroke

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstrokeAn act of stroking; A blow or hit; A single...
2Middle EnglishstrokeAny striking or hitting motion; The force of...
3Middle EnglishstrokAlternative form of stroke; Alternative form of...
4Old Englishstrācstroke
5ScotsstraikA stroke, a blow; To stroke
6Proto-GermanicstraikazA stroke, line, dash
7Proto-Indo-Europeanstreyg-to strike; to shear
8Proto-Indo-European(s)ter-strong, firm, stiff, rigid; rigid, stiff; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-