Where does “włóczykij” come from?

włóczykij (Polish) comes from Polish kij, from Proto-Slavic kyjь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic kuʔios-, from Proto-Indo-European kuh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kewh₂- — to hit, to strike; to forge.

włóczykij (Polish): vagabond, vagrant, wanderer, rover

Definitions

  1. vagabond, vagrant, wanderer, rover

Ancestry of “włóczykij”, step by step

włóczykij traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Polish kij

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Polishkijstick; cue; baseball bat
2Proto-Slavickyjьstick, club; hammer
3Proto-Balto-Slavickuʔios-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeankuh₂—
5Proto-Indo-Europeankewh₂-to hit, to strike; to forge

via Polish włóczyć

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Polishwłóczyćto drag, to draggle; to gallivant, to roam, to...
2Proto-Slavicvolčitito drag, to draw, to trail
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kewh₂- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kuh₂ →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic kuʔios- →