Where does “wikilawyering” come from?

wikilawyering (English) comes from English wikilawyer, from English lawyer, from Middle English lawiere, from Middle English lawe, from Old English lagu, from Old Norse lǫg, from Old Norse lág, from Old Norse leggja — to lie.

wikilawyering (English): Engaging in legalistic arguments on a wiki

Definitions

  1. Engaging in legalistic arguments on a wiki

Ancestry of “wikilawyering”, step by step

wikilawyering traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English wikilawyer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwikilawyerSomeone who engages in legalistic arguments on a wiki
2EnglishlawyerA professional person qualified and authorized...
3Middle Englishlawierelawyer individual authorised to practice law
4Middle EnglishlaweA law, regulation, or a group of them; Morality,...
5Old Englishlagusea, water, lake; the runic character ᛚ; law,...
6Old Norselǫgfate; situation, the condition that one is given...
7Old Norselága felled tree; log; lying tree
8Old Norseleggjato lay, place, put; to make, build
9Proto-Germaniclagjanąto lay, to place in a resting position
10Proto-Indo-Europeanlegʰ-to lie

via English ing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishingA meadow, especially a low meadow near a river;...
2Middle Englishing
3Old Englishingmeadow, water meadow, ing
4Old Norseengmeadow
5Proto-GermanicangijōA low lying meadow in a valley or near a river
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énkoscurve, bend
7Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...

via English lawyering

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlawyeringThe practicing of law as a profession; being a...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European legʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic lagjanąEvery word from Old Norse leggja