Where does “kvicksand” come from?

kvicksand (Swedish) comes from Swedish kvick, from Old Swedish qvikker, from Old Norse kvikr, from Proto-Germanic kwikwaz, from Proto-Indo-European gʷih₃wós, from Proto-Indo-European gʷeih₃w- — to live.

kvicksand (Swedish): quicksand

Definitions

  1. quicksand

Ancestry of “kvicksand”, step by step

kvicksand traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish kvick

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishkvickquick, fast; quick-witted
2Old Swedishqvikkeralive; lively, animated
3Old Norsekvikralive; lively, quick
4Proto-Germanickwikwazalive; lively, quick
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʷih₃wósalive, living
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʷeih₃w-to live

via Swedish sänd

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishsändsand (finely ground rock)
2Old Swedishsandertrue, real
3Old Norsesannrtrue
4Proto-Germanicsanþaztrue, real
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁sóntsactive participle of *h₁ésti; being, existence;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-to be
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷeih₃w- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷih₃wós →Every word from Proto-Germanic kwikwaz →