Where does “winch” come from?
Winch comes from Middle English wynche, from Old English winċe, from Proto-Germanic winkijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European weng-.
winch (English): A machine consisting of a drum on an axle, a...
Definitions
- A machine consisting of a drum on an axle, a...
Ancestry of “winch”, step by step
winch traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English hlēapewince
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | hlēapewince | lapwing |
| 2 | Old English | wincian | to close the eyes; blink; to wink; make a sign;... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | winkōn | to blink, wink, close one's eyes; to wave, nod |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | -ōn | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -ōną | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 9 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via English wench
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wench | A girl or young woman, especially a buxom or... |
| 2 | Middle English | wench | — |
| 3 | Middle English | wenchel | girl; maiden; child |
| 4 | Old English | wenċel | child |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wankilą | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | wankijaną | to sway; to sway; waver |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | weng- | to bend, bow, arch, curve; to bow, be bent; to... |