Where does “whipcrack” come from?

whipcrack (English) comes from English crack, from Middle English crak, from Old Norse kráka, from Proto-Germanic *krakǭ, from Proto-Germanic krakōną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

whipcrack (English): The crack of a whip

Definitions

  1. The crack of a whip

Ancestry of “whipcrack”, step by step

whipcrack traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English crack

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrackTo form cracks; To break apart under pressure; To...
2Middle Englishcrakloud conversation, bragging talk
3Old Norsekrákacrow
4Proto-Germanic*krakǭ—
5Proto-Germanickrakōnąto crack; crackle; shriek
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

via English whip

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwhipA lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a...
2Middle Englishwhippen—
3Middle Dutchwippento swing, leap, dance, oscillate
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic krakōną →Every word from Proto-Germanic *krakǭ →