Where does “Wachturm” come from?

Wachturm (German) comes from German turm, from Middle High German turn, from Old High German turn, from Old French torn, from Old French tour, from Old French torner, from Latin tornō, from Latin tornus — to rub, turn; to drill, pierce.

Wachturm (German): watchtower

Definitions

  1. watchtower

Ancestry of “Wachturm”, step by step

Wachturm traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German turm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanturmtower, spire very tall building or structure, especially with a tapering top
2Middle High Germanturntower
3Old High Germanturntower
4Old Frenchtorn
5Old Frenchtourtower
6Old Frenchtornerto turn; to return; to go back
7Latintornōto turn
8LatintornusA turner's wheel, lathe; A potter's wheel
9Ancient GreekτόρνοςA tool similar to a pair of compasses used to...
10Proto-Indo-Europeantorh₂no-
11Proto-Indo-Europeanterh₁-to rub, turn; to drill, pierce

via German wachen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanwachento be awake; to watch, to guard
2Old High Germanwahhēnto wake
3Proto-West Germanicwakēnto wake, to be awake
4Proto-Germanicwakānąto wake, to be awake
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European terh₁-Every word from Proto-Indo-European torh₂no-Every word from Ancient Greek τόρνος