Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thumbwheel” come from?

thumbwheel (English) comes from English wheel, from Middle English whel, from Old English hwēol, from Proto-Germanic hweulō, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷléh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.

thumbwheel (English): A small thumb or finger-operated wheel on a...

Definitions

  1. A small thumb or finger-operated wheel on a...

Ancestry of “thumbwheel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwheelA circular device capable of rotating on its...
2Middle Englishwhel—
3Old Englishhwēol—
4Proto-Germanichweulōnominative/vocative/accusative plural of *hwehwlą
5Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷléh₂—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →