Where does “wheelbase” come from?
wheelbase (English) comes from English Base, from Middle English base, from Old French base, from Latin basis, from Ancient Greek βάσις, from Proto-Hellenic gʷə́tis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷémtis, from Proto-Indo-European gʷem- — to step.
wheelbase (English): The horizontal distance between the front and...
Definitions
- The horizontal distance between the front and...
Ancestry of “wheelbase”, step by step
wheelbase traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Base
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Base | Something from which other things extend; a foundation |
| 2 | Middle English | base | A foundation or base; the bottom of a building;... |
| 3 | Old French | base | base bottom part; supporting part |
| 4 | Latin | basis | A pedestal, foot, base; basis, foundation; The... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | βάσις | step; rhythm; foot |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | gʷə́tis | step |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷémtis | step, act of walking |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷem- | to step |
via English wheel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wheel | A circular device capable of rotating on its... |
| 2 | Middle English | whel | A wheel circular device for motion |
| 3 | Old English | hwēol | wheel |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hweulō | nominative/vocative/accusative plural of *hwehwlą |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷékʷléh₂ | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷékʷlos | wheel; circle |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷel- | to turn |