Where does “wiseguy” come from?

wiseguy (English) comes from English wise, from Middle English wys, from Old English wīs, from Proto-Germanic wīsaz, from Proto-Indo-European weydstos, from Proto-Indo-European weyd- — to see.

Ancestry of “wiseguy”, step by step

wiseguy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wise

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwiseShowing good judgement or the benefit of...
2Middle Englishwyswise, thoughtful, proper; knowledgeable; alert,...
3Old Englishwīswise
4Proto-Germanicwīsazwise, knowledgeable
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweydstosknowledgeable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

via English Guy

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishGuyAn effigy of Guy Fawkes burned on Bonfire Night
2Old FrenchGui—
3Old High GermanWido—
4Proto-Germanicwiduzwood
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwidʰu-forest, wood; tree, beam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →