Where does “sidewalk” come from?

Sidewalk derives from Middle English side combined with walk, tracing through Old English sīde and Proto-Germanic walkōną back to Proto-Indo-European roots wel- and sek-.

sidewalk (English): a footpath, usually paved, at the side of a road...

Definitions

  1. a footpath, usually paved, at the side of a road...

Ancestry of “sidewalk”, step by step

sidewalk 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 walk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwalkTo move on the feet by alternately setting each...
2Middle Englishwalkto watch
3Old Englishwealcianto roll up, curl, twist; to wrinkle
4Frankishwalkōnto roll; to full
5Proto-GermanicwalkōnąTo roll about; wallow; To full
6Indo-European*wel-—

Words derived from “sidewalk”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European sh₂ey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European séh₂ito- →