Where does “stonewall” come from?
stonewall (English) comes from Middle English stonwal, from Old English stānweall, from Old English stān, from Old Norse Veggr, from Proto-Germanic wajjuz, from Proto-Indo-European wh̥₁yús, from Proto-Indo-European weh₁y- — to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,...
stonewall (English): An obstruction; A refusal to cooperate; An...
Definitions
- An obstruction; A refusal to cooperate; An...
Ancestry of “stonewall”, step by step
stonewall traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English stonwal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stonwal | — |
| 2 | Old English | stānweall | stonewall |
| 3 | Old English | stān | stone, rock |
| 4 | Old Norse | Veggr | name of a dwarf |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wajjuz | wall |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wh̥₁yús | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weh₁y- | to twist, wind, weave, plait; to wrap, enclose,... |
via Middle English stanewalle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stanewalle | wall made of stone |
via Middle English stone wall
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stone wall | — |