English

highwire

From high + wire.

A compound of high + wire

Proto-Indo-European *kewk- ‘to bend’

Proto-Germanic *hauhaz

Proto-West Germanic *hauh

Old English hēah ‘high’

Middle English high

English high

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 strung high above the ground which is used for acrobatic stunts.

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

Etymograph / highwire