Where does “wave” come from?

wave (Middle English) comes from Middle English waven, from Old English wafian, from Proto-Germanic wabōną, from Proto-Indo-European webʰ- — to weave, braid.

wave (Middle English): Alternative form of waven

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of waven

Ancestry of “wave”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwavenTo shake, swing or totter; to move to and fro; To...
2Old Englishwafianto wave; to be agitated, astonished, amazed; to...
3Proto-Germanicwabōną—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwebʰ-to weave, braid
Every word from Proto-Indo-European webʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wabōną →Every word from Old English wafian →
wave — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer