Where does “waxwork” come from?

waxwork (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.

waxwork (English): A figure made of wax, especially an effigy of a...

Definitions

  1. A figure made of wax, especially an effigy of a...

Ancestry of “waxwork”, step by step

waxwork 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 wax

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwaxBeeswax; Earwax; Any oily, water-resistant...
2Middle Englishwaxwax beeswax, sealing wax, etc
3Old Englishweaxwax
4Proto-West Germanicwahs—
5Proto-Germanicwahsąwax
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwoḱ-so-—

Words derived from “waxwork”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European werǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wérǵom →Every word from Proto-Germanic werką →
waxwork — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer