Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vorpal” come from?

vorpal (English) comes from English warp, from Middle English warp, from Old English wearp, from Proto-Germanic warpą, from Proto-Germanic werpaną, from Proto-Indo-European werb-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

vorpal (English): Sharp or deadly; Having a special power making...

Definitions

  1. Sharp or deadly; Having a special power making...

Ancestry of “vorpal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwarpThe state, quality, or condition of being...
2Middle Englishwarp—
3Old Englishwearpwarp
4Proto-Germanicwarpąwarp
5Proto-Germanicwerpanąto throw; to cast
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwerb-to throw, twist, bend; to turn, bend, twist; to...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “vorpal”

  • vorpalize
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →