Etymology Explorer › English

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

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSide—
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdā—
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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂- →