Where does “sidewall” come from?

Sidewall is derived from Middle English side and wall, which comes from Old English sīde and vallum, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European wel-.

sidewall (English): The side of a tire; The wall forming the side of...

Definitions

  1. The side of a tire; The wall forming the side of...

Ancestry of “sidewall”, step by step

sidewall 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 Wall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWallThe Berlin Wall
2Middle EnglishwallAlternative form of wale
3Old Englishweallwall; fervour; uproar; boiled or mulled wine
4Proto-Germanicwallazwell, spring; wall, rampart, entrenchment
5Latinvallumwall, rampart, entrenchment
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwēl-to see, perceive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-