Where does “wadcutter” come from?

wadcutter (English) comes from English cutter, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

wadcutter (English): a special-purpose bullet designed for shooting...

Definitions

  1. a special-purpose bullet designed for shooting...

Ancestry of “wadcutter”, step by step

wadcutter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English cutter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcutterA person or device that cuts; A single-masted,...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English wad

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwadAn amorphous, compact mass; A substantial pile; A...
2Middle Englishwadmalwoolen cloth
3Old Norseváðmálwoolen stuff
4Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti