Where does “waterfright” come from?

waterfright (English) comes from English water, from Middle English water, from Old English wæter, from Proto-West Germanic watar, from Proto-Germanic watōr, from Proto-Indo-European wódr̥, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

waterfright (English): A fear of water; aquaphobia

Definitions

  1. A fear of water; aquaphobia

Ancestry of “waterfright”, step by step

waterfright traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English water

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwaterA substance found at room temperature and...
2Middle Englishwaterwater; water vapour, condensation; lake, pond,...
3Old Englishwæterwater
4Proto-West Germanicwatarwater
5Proto-Germanicwatōrwater
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwódr̥water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

via English fright

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfrightA state of terror excited by the sudden...
2Middle EnglishfrightAlternative form of frith; A fright or scare
3Old EnglishfryhtuAlternative form of fyrhtu: fright
4Old Englishfyrhtufright
5Proto-West Germanicfurhtīfright, fear
6Proto-Germanicfurhtį̄fear, fright
7Proto-Indo-Europeanperǵ-
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey-
waterfright — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer