Where does “straightedge” come from?

straightedge (English) comes from English edge, from English wise, from Middle English wys, from Old English wīs, from Proto-Germanic wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European weydstos, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

straightedge (English): Living one's life opposing or eschewing the use...

Definitions

  1. Living one's life opposing or eschewing the use...

Ancestry of “straightedge”, step by step

straightedge traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English edge

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishedgeThe boundary line of a surface; A one-dimensional...
2EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
3Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
4Old Englishwīswise
5Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

via English straight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstraightNot crooked or bent; having a constant direction...
2Middle Englishstreightstraight; direct
3Middle EnglishstrecchenTo stretch out, spread, extend; To stretch,...
4Old Englishstreċċanto stretch, hold out, extend, spread out,...
5Proto-West Germanicstrakkjanto stretch, to make straight
6Proto-Indo-European(s)treg-rigid, stiff; to be stiff, rigid, strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd-