Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wrestling” come from?

Wrestling derives from Middle English wrestlen, from Old English wræstlian, a verb of uncertain ultimate origin.

wrestling (English): present participle of wrestle; A sport where two...

Definitions

  1. present participle of wrestle; A sport where two...

Ancestry of “wrestling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwrestleA wrestling bout; A struggle; To contend, with an...
2Middle Englishwrestlen—
3Old Englishwræstlian—
4Old Englishwrǣstanto twist forcibly, wrench
5Proto-Germanicwraistijanąto wrest, to twist, to turn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwreyt-to twist
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “wrestling”

  • レスリング
  • 레슬링
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →