Where does “knútsvaka” come from?

knútsvaka (Old Norse) comes from Old Norse vaka, from Proto-Germanic wakāną, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

Ancestry of “knútsvaka”, step by step

knútsvaka traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse vaka

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsevakato be awake, keep awake; waking; vigil
2Proto-Germanicwakānąto wake, to be awake
3Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

via Old Norse Knútr

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseKnútrknot
2Proto-Germanicknuttôa knot
3Proto-Indo-Europeangnod-to bind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wakāną →Every word from Old Norse vaka →
knútsvaka — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer