weigh

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 700+ words | Copyright

weigh
A. bear, carry, lift (spec. raise an anchor XIV);

B. balance in the scales;

C. have heaviness or weight. OE. str. vb. weġan = OS. wegan (Du. wegen) weigh, OHG. wegan move, shake, weigh (in G. bewegen move), ON. vega lift, weigh, Goth. *wigan in pp. gawigans shaken:- Gmc. *weʒan, f. *weʒ- *waʒ- *wæ̃ʒ- :- IE. *weĝh- *woġh- *wēġh- (see WAY).
So weight measurement or amount determined by weighing. The OE. form was wiht, more usu. ġewiht, corr. to MDu. wicht, ghewichte (Du. (ge)wicht), MHG. gewichte (G. gewicht), ON. vétt, vǽtt :- Gmc. -wextiz and *gawextjam, f. *weʒ-; see -T1. This form was directly repr. by ME. wi(g)ht, wiʒt, which was superseded by weght, wei(g)ht, weʒt — ON. *weht, vétt; the prevalence of this form was assisted by WEIGH. Hence weighty (-Y1) XV.

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T. F. HOAD. "weigh." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "weigh." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-weigh.html

T. F. HOAD. "weigh." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-weigh.html

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