Where does “wrynecked” come from?
wrynecked (English) comes from English wryneck, from English wry, from Middle English wrien, from Old English wrīġian, from Proto-Germanic wrigōną, from Proto-Indo-European wreyḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
wrynecked (English): Having a distorted neck; having the deformity...
Definitions
- Having a distorted neck; having the deformity...
Ancestry of “wrynecked”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | wryneck | Either of two small woodpeckers, "Jynx torquilla"... |
| 2 | English | wry | Turned away, contorted; Dryly humorous; sardonic... |
| 3 | Middle English | wrien | to cover |
| 4 | Old English | wrīġian | to go, turn, twist, bend, strive, struggle, press... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wrigōną | to wriggle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wreyḱ- | to twist; to bend |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |