Where does “spadework” come from?

spadework (English) comes from English work, from Middle English werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic werk, from Proto-Germanic werką, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.

spadework (English): Work done by digging with a spade; Work done in...

Definitions

  1. Work done by digging with a spade; Work done in...

Ancestry of “spadework”, step by step

spadework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English spade

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspadeA garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for...
2Italianspadeplural of spada
3Italianspataspathe
4Latinspathaspatula, spattle; spatha; a long, two-edged,...
5Ancient Greekσπάθηany broad blade, of wood or metal
6Proto-Indo-Europeansph₂-dʰ-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →