Where does “wreck havoc” come from?

wreck havoc (English) comes from English wreck, from Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse wrek, from Proto-Germanic wrekaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ- — to work, act.

wreck havoc (English): Misspelling of wreak havoc

Definitions

  1. Misspelling of wreak havoc

Ancestry of “wreck havoc”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwreckSomething or someone that has been ruined; The...
2Middle Englishwrekwreck
3Anglo-Normanwrekshipwreck
4Old Norsewrek—
5Proto-Germanicwrekanąto pursue, to drive out
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwreǵ-to work, act
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wrekaną →Every word from Old Norse wrek →