Where does “wheyface” come from?
wheyface (English) comes from English face, from Middle English face, from Old French face, from Late Latin facia.
wheyface (English): One who is pale, as from fear; a coward
Definitions
- One who is pale, as from fear; a coward
Ancestry of “wheyface”, step by step
wheyface traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English face
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | face | The front part of the head of a human or other... |
| 2 | Middle English | face | face; Alternative form of fass |
| 3 | Old French | face | face |
| 4 | Late Latin | facia | — |
via English whey
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | whey | The liquid remaining after milk has been curdled... |
| 2 | Middle English | whey | The leftovers from milk curdled during... |
| 3 | Old English | hwǣġ | — |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *hwaij | whey |