Where does “thumbstick” come from?

thumbstick (English) comes from English thumb, from Middle English þombe, from Old English þūma, from Proto-West Germanic þūmō, from Proto-Germanic þūmô, from Proto-Indo-European tūm-, from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂- — to swell; to crowd; to be strong.

thumbstick (English): A small joystick that can be operated with the...

Definitions

  1. A small joystick that can be operated with the...

Ancestry of “thumbstick”, step by step

thumbstick traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English thumb

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthumbThe short thick digit of the hand that for humans...
2Middle Englishþombethumb; thumb-length; big toe
3Old Englishþūmathumb
4Proto-West Germanicþūmōthumb
5Proto-Germanicþūmôthumb
6Proto-Indo-Europeantūm-to grow; to swell, to increase; to swell, be...
7Proto-Indo-Europeantewh₂-to swell; to crowd; to be strong

via English stick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstickAn elongated piece of wood or similar material,...
2Middle Englishstikketwig, branch; kindling, twigs used as a...
3Old Englishsticcastick
4Proto-West Germanic*stikkōstick, pole
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European tūm-Every word from Proto-Germanic þūmô