Where does “wrench” come from?
Wrench comes from Middle English wrench, from Old English wrenċan, from Proto-Germanic wrankiz, from Proto-Indo-European wreng-.
wrench (English): A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug;...
Definitions
- A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug;...
Ancestry of “wrench”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | wrench | A trick or artifice; a deceptive action |
| 2 | Old English | wrenċ | wile, stratagem; trick, deceit |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *wranki | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wrankiz | a turning, twisting; a turn, twisting |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wreng- | to turn |
Words derived from “wrench”