wand

Where does the word "wand" come from? It comes from Old Norse vǫndr, passing through Middle English before entering English (1500s).

Wand’s story begins in Old Norse: vǫndr meant “switch, twig.” A slender, flexible stick or switch, possibly related to 'wind' in the sense of bending. By 1200s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as wand. Used for a young shoot and for a rod of authority carried by officials. It reached English by 1500s as wand. The magical sense, a rod used by conjurers and fairies, became prominent in Renaissance literature. Today, wand means a thin rod, especially one used to perform magic.

1. Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval vǫndr "switch, twig", a slender, flexible stick or switch, possibly related to 'wind' in the sense of bending.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1200s wand "slender stick; staff of office", used for a young shoot and for a rod of authority carried by officials.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s wand "a magic rod", the magical sense, a rod used by conjurers and fairies, became prominent in Renaissance literature.