Where does “whipsaw” come from?

whipsaw (English) comes from English saw, from Middle English sawe, from Old English saga, from Proto-West Germanic sagā, from Proto-Germanic sagǭ, from Proto-Indo-European sekʷe-, from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- — to follow; to see; to say.

whipsaw (English): a rip saw often operated by two people; To...

Definitions

  1. a rip saw often operated by two people; To...

Ancestry of “whipsaw”, step by step

whipsaw traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English saw

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsawA tool with a toothed blade used for cutting hard...
2Middle EnglishsaweAlternative form of sauf
3Old Englishsagasaw; saying; statement; story, tale; narrative
4Proto-West Germanicsagāstory
5Proto-Germanicsagǭstory
6Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷe-
7Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say

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 sekʷ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European sekʷe-Every word from Proto-Germanic sagǭ