English

guidewire

From guide + wire.

A compound of guide + wire

Proto-Indo-European *weyd- ‘to see’

…

Old Occitan guidar

Old Occitan guida

Old French guide ‘a guide’

Middle English guide

English guide

Proto-Indo-European *weh₁y- ‘to turn’

Proto-Indo-European *weh₁iros ‘a twist’

Proto-Germanic *wīraz

Old English wīr ‘wire’

Middle English wir

English wire

Today it means

noun A wire used to restrict and control the movement of other equipment, such as a catheter being inserted into the body.

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

Etymograph / guidewire