Where does “thongweed” come from?

thongweed (English) comes from English thong, from Middle English thong, from Old English þwang, from Proto-West Germanic þwangi, from Proto-Germanic þwangiz, from Proto-Indo-European twenk- — to press, squeeze; to squeeze, press, pressure.

Ancestry of “thongweed”, step by step

thongweed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English thong

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthongA strip of leather; An item of footwear, usually...
2Middle EnglishthongA strip cut from a piece of leather
3Old Englishþwangthong
4Proto-West Germanicþwangibelt, strap, thong
5Proto-Germanicþwangizbelt, strap, thong; clamp
6Proto-Indo-Europeantwenk-to press, squeeze; to squeeze, press, pressure

via English weed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishweedAny plant regarded as unwanted at the place...
2Middle Englishweed
3Old Englishwēodweed
4Proto-West Germanic*weudweed (unwanted plant)
Every word from Proto-Indo-European twenk-Every word from Proto-Germanic þwangizEvery word from Proto-West Germanic þwangi
thongweed — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer