Where does “wavelength” come from?
Wavelength derives from Middle English wave, from Old English wafian meaning to fluctuate, combined with English length, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European webʰ- meaning to weave.
wavelength (English): The length of a single cycle of a wave, as...
Definitions
- The length of a single cycle of a wave, as...
Ancestry of “wavelength”, step by step
wavelength traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English length
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | length | The distance measured along the longest dimension... |
| 2 | Middle English | lengthe | length |
| 3 | Old English | lengþu | length |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | langiþō | longness, length |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |
via English wave
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wave | To move back and forth repeatedly and somewhat... |
| 2 | Middle English | wawe | A wave; Any sort of flowing or spurting motion;... |
| 3 | Old English | wǣġ | a weight; a tool for weighing, balance, scale |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wēgaz | wave; sea |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | weǵʰ- | to bring; to transport |