English

fourthhand

From fourth + hand.

A compound of fourth + hand

Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres ‘four’

…

Proto-West Germanic *feurþō ‘fourth’

Old English fēorþa ‘fourth’

Middle English ferthe

Middle English fourthe

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Today it means

adj Having been relayed by three intermediate sources.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / fourthhand