Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “welterweight” come from?

welterweight (English) comes from English welter-weight, from English welter, from Middle English welteren, from English welt, from German welt, from Middle High German werlt, from Old High German weralt, from Proto-West Germanic weraldi — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

welterweight (English): Alternative spelling of welter-weight

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of welter-weight

Ancestry of “welterweight”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwelter-weightbetween lightweight and middleweight; a boxer...
2EnglishwelterA general confusion or muddle; A tossing or...
3Middle Englishwelteren—
4EnglishweltTo roll; revolve; A ridge or lump on the skin, as...
5Germanwelt—
6Middle High Germanwerlt—
7Old High Germanweraltworld
8Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
9Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
10Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
12Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “welterweight”

  • superwelterweight
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →