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Origin and history of vise

vise(n.)

early 14c., "a winch, a crane for lifting," from Anglo-French vice, Old French vis, viz "screw," from Latin vītis "vine, tendril of a vine," literally "that which winds," from root of viere "to bind, twist" (from PIE root *wei- "to turn, twist, bend").

The meaning "clamping tool with two jaws closed by a screw," used to hold an object firmly in place when working on it, is attested from c. 1500.

Also in Middle English of the device like a screw or winch for bending a crossbow or catapult; the newel of a spiraling staircase; the screw of a press; and a twisted tie for fastening a hood under the chin.

also from early 14c.

Entries linking to vise

vice(n.2)

"tool for holding," see vise.

washer(n.2)

"flat ring for sealing joints or holding nuts," mid-14c., generally considered an agent noun of wash (v.), but the sense connection is difficult, and the noun may derive instead from the ancestor of French vis "screw, vise" (see vise).

*wei-

also weiə-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to turn, twist, bend," with derivatives referring to suppleness or binding. 

It might form all or part of: ferrule; garland; iridescence; iridescent; iris; iridium; vise; viticulture; wire; withe; withy.

It might also be the source of: Avestan vaeiti- "osier;" Greek itea "willow," iris "rainbow;" Latin viere "to bend, twist," vitis "vine;" Lithuanian vytis "willow twig;" Old Irish fiar, Welsh gwyr "bent, crooked;" Polish witwa, Welsh gwden "willow," Russian vitvina "branch, bough;" Old English wir "metal drawn out into a fine thread." 

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    Trends of vise

    adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

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