Where does “testfire” come from?

testfire (English) comes from English Test, from German testen, from German Test, from English test, from Middle English teste, from Old French teste, from Latin testis, from Latin terstis — to stand.

testfire (English): To subject to a test firing

Definitions

  1. To subject to a test firing

Ancestry of “testfire”, step by step

testfire traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Test

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishTesta Test match
2Germantestento test
3GermanTesttest; melting pot
4EnglishtestA challenge, trial; A cupel or cupelling hearth...
5Middle Englishteste
6Old Frenchtestehead
7Latintestiswitness; one who testifies or attests; testicle
8Latinterstis
9Latintrīstissad, unhappy, melancholy, morose
10Proto-Indo-Europeantristh₂sa third party standing, after the two parties to...
11Proto-Indo-Europeansteh₂-to stand

via English fire

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfireA chemical reaction involving the bonding of...
2Middle EnglishfierAlternative form of figer
3Old Englishfȳrfire
4Old EnglishfeorAlternative form of feorr; far
5Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
6Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-