Where does “wrest” come from?

wrest (Middle English) comes from Middle English wrist, from Old English wrist, from Proto-Germanic wristuz, from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreyt-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

wrest (Middle English): Alternative form of wrist

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of wrist

Ancestry of “wrest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwristwrist; The joint at the ankle
2Old Englishwristwrist
3Proto-Germanicwristuzjoint
4Proto-Germanicwrīþanąto weave, to twist
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwreyt-to twist
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreyt- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wrīþaną →