Where does “윗물” come from?

윗물 (Korean) comes from Korean 위, from Chinese 位, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kV-r(j)əp — to stand.

윗물 (Korean): upstream water

Definitions

  1. upstream water

Ancestry of “윗물”, step by step

윗물 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Korean 위

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Korean위above, upper, upside, top
2Chinese位—
3Proto-Sino-Tibetan*kV-r(j)əpto stand

via Korean 물

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Korean물water, a liquid widely distributed in the natural...
Every word from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *kV-r(j)əp →Every word from Chinese 位 →Every word from Korean 위 →