Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “wharf” come from?

wharf (Middle English) comes from Old English hweorfan, from Proto-Germanic hwerbaną, from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp- — to turn; to whirl, to twist.

wharf (Middle English): wharf

Definitions

  1. wharf

Ancestry of “wharf”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishhweorfanto turn, change; to depart, go, proceed; to...
2Proto-Germanichwerbanąto turn; turn around; to move; move about; to...
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷerp-to turn; to whirl, to twist

Words derived from “wharf”

  • wharf
  • wharfage
  • wharfinger
  • wharfside
  • wharfing
  • wharfmaster
  • wharfie
  • wharfman
  • wharflike
  • wharfage
  • ihhofu
  • wap
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷerp- →