Where does “waterworks” come from?
Waterworks derives from English water, which comes from Old English wæter, Proto-West Germanic watar, Proto-Germanic watōr, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European wódr̥, rooted in the stem wed- meaning "water" or "wet."
waterworks (English): The water supply system of a town etc., including...
Definitions
- The water supply system of a town etc., including...
Ancestry of “waterworks”, step by step
waterworks traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English water
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | water | A substance found at room temperature and... |
| 2 | Middle English | water | water; water vapour, condensation; lake, pond,... |
| 3 | Old English | wæter | water |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | watar | water |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | watōr | water |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wódr̥ | water |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wed- | water |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wey- | to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;... |
via English works
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | works | plural of work in its countable senses; API pl; A... |