Where does “swarf” come from?
swarf (English) comes from Middle English swarf, from Old English ġeswearf, from Proto-Germanic swarbą, from Proto-Germanic swerbaną, from Proto-Indo-European swerbʰ- — to turn; wipe; sweep.
swarf (English): The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive...
Definitions
- The waste chips or shavings from an abrasive...
Ancestry of “swarf”, step by step
swarf traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English swarf
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | swarf | — |
| 2 | Old English | ġeswearf | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | swarbą | that which is rubbed off; shavings |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | swerbaną | to rub; wipe; polish; to file |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | swerbʰ- | to turn; wipe; sweep |
via Old Norse svarf
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | svarf | metallic dust; sawdust |