Where does “stairwell” come from?

Stairwell comes from English well, from Middle English wellen, from Old English weallan, from Proto-Germanic hwehwlą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-, meaning to turn or move around.

stairwell (English): A shaft in a multi-story building enclosing a...

Definitions

  1. A shaft in a multi-story building enclosing a...

Ancestry of “stairwell”, step by step

stairwell traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English well

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwellAccurately, competently, satisfactorily;...
2Middle Englishwellento boil, to bubble
3Old Englishweallanto well
4Proto-Germanicwallanąto well up, spring out, bubble forth
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind

via English stair

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstairA single step in a staircase; A series of steps;...
2Middle Englishsteirestaircase, stairs; stair, step; ladder
3Old Englishstǣġerstair, staircase
4Proto-Germanicstaigrizscaffold, platform; stairs
5Proto-Indo-Europeansteyǵʰ-to go

Words derived from “stairwell”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēlH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wallaną →