Where does “swath” come from?

Swath comes from Middle English swath, from Old English swæþ, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European swem(bʰ)-, a root meaning to sweep or move swiftly.

swath (English): The track cut out by a scythe in mowing; A broad...

Definitions

  1. The track cut out by a scythe in mowing; A broad...

Ancestry of “swath”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishswathAlternative form of swathe; Alternative form of...
2Old Englishswæþtrack, trace; footprint; bandage; swathe
3Proto-Germanicswaþōa wind-swept place; open field; borderland;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswem(bʰ)-to bend, turn, swing; to be unsteady, move, swim

Words derived from “swath”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European swem(bʰ)- →Every word from Proto-Germanic swaþō →Every word from Old English swæþ →