Where does “vertical” come from?

vertical (Piedmontese) comes from Late Latin verticalis, from Latin vertex, from Latin vertō, from Proto-Italic wertō, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

vertical (Piedmontese): vertical

Definitions

  1. vertical

Ancestry of “vertical”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latinverticalishighest in the hierarchy; located over the head,...
2Latinvertexwhirlpool, eddy, vortex; crown; top, peak, summit
3Latinvertōto turn, turn oneself, direct one's way, to turn about, turn around, revolve
4Proto-Italicwertōto turn
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wert-Every word from Proto-Italic wertō