Where does “wrytail” come from?
wrytail (English) comes 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.
wrytail (English): A condition in cattle where the base of the tail is set at an angle to the backbone
Definitions
- A condition in cattle where the base of the tail is set at an angle to the backbone
Ancestry of “wrytail”, step by step
wrytail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English wry
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wry | Turned away, contorted; Dryly humorous; sardonic... |
| 2 | Middle English | wrien | to cover |
| 3 | Old English | wrīġian | to go, turn, twist, bend, strive, struggle, press... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wrigōną | to wriggle |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wreyḱ- | to twist; to bend |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
via English Tail
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Tail | A Chinese constellation coinciding with the tail of Scorpius, one of the 28 lunar mansions and the tail of Azure Dragon |
| 2 | Middle English | tayl | A tail; The back side or reverse of a creature; A... |
| 3 | Old English | tæġl | tail |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | taglą | hair; ponytail; hair of a tail; tail |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | doḱ- | hair of the tail |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | deḱ- | take; perceive |