Where does “Waschlappen” come from?

Waschlappen (German) comes from German waschen, from Middle High German waschen, from Old High German wascan, from Proto-Germanic waskaną, from Proto-Germanic watskaną, from Proto-Indo-European wed-, from Proto-Indo-European wey- — to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Waschlappen (German): flannel, washcloth; pansy, sissy

Definitions

  1. flannel, washcloth; pansy, sissy

Ancestry of “Waschlappen”, step by step

Waschlappen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German waschen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanwaschento wash
2Middle High Germanwaschen—
3Old High Germanwascan—
4Proto-Germanicwaskanąto wash
5Proto-Germanicwatskanąto wash, get wet
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

via German lappen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanlappencloth, rag
2Middle High Germanlappe—
3Old High Germanlappo—
4Frankishlappācloth, rag, lobe; torn piece of cloth; rag, torn...
5Proto-Germaniclappǭ—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanleb-to hang down loosely; lip; lick
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wed- →Every word from Proto-Germanic watskaną →