Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “winker” come from?

winker (English) comes from English tiddlywinker, from English tiddlywink, from English tiddly, from English wink, from English periwinkle, from Middle English pinewinkle, from Old English pīnewincle, from Latin pina — Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots.

winker (English): A screen attached to the bridle of a horse or...

Definitions

  1. A screen attached to the bridle of a horse or...

Ancestry of “winker”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishtiddlywinker—
2EnglishtiddlywinkA small disc used in the game of tiddlywinks; An...
3Englishtiddly—
4EnglishwinkTo close one's eyes in sleep; To close one's...
5EnglishperiwinkleAny of several evergreen plants of the genus...
6Middle Englishpinewinkle—
7Old Englishpīnewincle—
8Latinpinasea pen
9Ancient Greekπίνηpen shell; pearl shell, pearl
10Ancient Greekτηρέωto watch over, take care of, guard; to have an...
11Ancient Greek-έωUsed to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and...
12Proto-Indo-European-éyetiForms causative imperfective verbs from roots;...
13Proto-Indo-European-yetiCreates transitive imperfective verbs from roots

Words derived from “winker”

  • eyewinker
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yeti →