Where does “wagework” come from?

wagework (English) comes from English work, from Middle English werk, from Old English weorc, from Proto-West Germanic werk, from Proto-Germanic werką, from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom, from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- — to make.

wagework (English): Work done to earn a wage

Definitions

  1. Work done to earn a wage

Ancestry of “wagework”, step by step

wagework traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English work

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwork"Employment."; "Effort."; Sustained effort to...
2Middle Englishwerkwork
3Old Englishweorcwork, in various senses, including
4Proto-West Germanicwerkwork
5Proto-Germanicwerkąwork
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwérǵomwork
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerǵ-to make

via English wage

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwageAn amount of money paid to a worker for a...
2Middle EnglishwageA wage; earnings; Money reserved for the payment...
3Anglo-Normanwagewave; Alternative form of gage
4Old Norsevágrocean, sea; inlet, bay
5Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵomEvery word from Proto-Germanic werką