English

handwave

From hand + wave.

A compound of hand + wave

Proto-Germanic *handuz

Proto-West Germanic *handu

Old English hand

Middle English hond

English hand

Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- ‘to weave, braid’

Proto-Germanic *wabōną

Proto-West Germanic *wabōn

Old English wafian ‘to wave’

Middle English waven ‘to shake’

English wave

Today it means

noun The wave of a hand.

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

Etymograph / handwave