Where does “speedway” come from?

speedway (English) comes from English Speed, from Middle English sped, from Old English spēd, from Proto-West Germanic spōdi, from Proto-West Germanic spōan, from Proto-Germanic spōaną, from Proto-Indo-European spéh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European speh₁- — to succeed, to prosper.

speedway (English): A form of motorcycle racing on flat oval dirt...

Definitions

  1. A form of motorcycle racing on flat oval dirt...

Ancestry of “speedway”, step by step

speedway traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Speed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSpeedThe state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion
2Middle Englishspedgood fortune
3Old Englishspēdsuccess; luck, prosperity, success
4Proto-West Germanicspōdihurry, rush; success, prosperity
5Proto-West Germanicspōanto succeed, prosper
6Proto-Germanicspōanąto prosper, succeed, be happy
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspéh₁-to succeed, to prosper
8Proto-Indo-Europeanspeh₁-to succeed, to prosper

via English Way

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWayChristianity
2Middle Englishway
3Old Englishweġway; path; way, road, path
4Proto-West Germanicwegway, road
5Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

Words derived from “speedway

Every word from Proto-Indo-European speh₁-
speedway — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer