Where does “torchwood” come from?

torchwood (English) comes from English torch, from French torcher, from French torche, from Old French torche, from Vulgar Latin torca, from Latin torquis, from Latin torqueō, from Proto-Indo-European terkʷ- — to turn, spin.

torchwood (English): Wood exhibiting fungal bioluminescence or...

Definitions

  1. Wood exhibiting fungal bioluminescence or...

Ancestry of “torchwood”, step by step

torchwood traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English torch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtorchA stick with a flame on one end, used chiefly as...
2Frenchtorcherto wipe with a cloth to remove dirt; to flare; to...
3Frenchtorchetorch; first-person singular present indicative...
4Old Frenchtorchebundle; torch
5Vulgar Latintorca
6Latintorquischaplet
7Latintorqueōto spin, whirl, twirl, turn, cause to revolve
8Proto-Indo-Europeanterkʷ-to turn, spin

via English Wood

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWoodAn English topographic surname for someone who lived in or near a wood
2EnglishFrogAlternative form of frog
3Portuguesefrocoflock
4Latinfloccustuft, wisp of wool
5Frankishflokkodown, wool, flock
6Proto-Germanic*flukkô
7Proto-Indo-Europeanplewk-to fly, flow, run; to splash, to flap with hands
8Proto-Indo-Europeanplew-to fly, flow, run
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terkʷ-Every word from Latin torqueōEvery word from Latin torquis