Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “woodwind” come from?

Woodwind derives from English wood and wind, where wood comes from Middle English wudu and Old English wudu, tracing through Proto-Indo-European roots including weh₂t-, wendʰ-, h₂wéh₁n̥ts, and h₂weh₁-.

woodwind (English): Any musical instrument that produces sound by...

Definitions

  1. Any musical instrument that produces sound by...

Ancestry of “woodwind”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwindReal or perceived movement of atmospheric air...
2EnglishfarmA place where agricultural and similar activities...
3Middle Englishferme—
4Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
5Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
6LatinFirma—
7LatinFirmus—
8Proto-Italicfermos—
9Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
10Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

Words derived from “woodwind”

  • woodwindist
  • woodwinder
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →