Where does “washtub” come from?

Washtub derives from English wash, from Middle English washen, from Old English wascan, from Proto-Germanic waskaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wey-, meaning to flow or move.

washtub (English): A tub used for washing clothes

Definitions

  1. A tub used for washing clothes

Ancestry of “washtub”, step by step

washtub traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wash

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwashTo clean with water; To move or erode by the...
2Middle Englishwashen
3Old Englishwasċanto wash
4Proto-West Germanicwaskanto wash
5Proto-Germanicwaskanąto wash
6Proto-Germanicwatskanąto wash, get wet
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

via English tub

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtubA flat-bottomed vessel, of width similar to or...
2Middle Englishtubbetub
3Middle Dutchtubbe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wed-Every word from Proto-Germanic watskaną