Where does “wheels” come from?
Wheels derives from Middle English whele, Old English hwēol, Proto-Germanic hwehwlą, and Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, ultimately from the root kʷel- meaning to turn or move around.
wheels (English): plural of wheel; API pl; An automobile or other...
Definitions
- plural of wheel; API pl; An automobile or other...
Ancestry of “wheels”, step by step
| 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 |