Origin and history of wing

late 12c., wenge, "forelimb fitted for flight of a bird or bat," also the part of some insects resembling a wing in form or function, from Old Norse vængr "wing of a bird, aisle, etc." (cognate with Danish and Swedish vinge "wing"), a word of unknown origin, perhaps from a Proto-Germanic *we-ingjaz, suffixed form of PIE root *we- "blow" (source of Old English wawan "to blow."

Replaced Old English feðra (plural) "wings" (see feather (n.)). As "power of flight" from late 14c. (to take wing "take flight" is by 1704). By mid-14c. figuratively, "that by which (someone, something) ascends spiritually." To spread (one's) wings "develop one's powers" is by 1864.

The meaning "either of two divisions of an army" is recorded c. 1400, later extended to factions, political parties. As "part of a building projecting from one side of the main part" is by 1520s. The sense in reference to each of the side-scenes of the stage of a theater is by 1790.

The slang sense of earn (one's) wings is 1940s, from the wing-shaped badges awarded to air cadets on graduation. Phrase on a wing and a prayer is title of a patriotic song from late 1942 ("I'm Coming In On a Wing and a Prayer," lyrics Harold Adamson) about landing a damaged bomber.

What a show, what a fight

Boys, we really hit our target for tonight

How we sing as we limp through the air

Look below, there's our field over there

With our one motor gone

We can still carry on

Comin' in on a wing and a prayer

To be under (someone's) wing "protected by (someone)" is recorded from early 13c., the image is of a young bird and its mother.

c. 1600, "take flight;" 1610s, "fit with wings," from wing (n.).

Earlier "carve (a bird) by removing the wings" (late 15c.). The meaning "shoot a bird in the wing" is from 1802, with figurative extensions to wounds suffered in non-essential parts.

The verbal phrase wing it (1885) is said to be from a theatrical slang sense of an actor learning his lines in the wings before going onstage, or else not learning them at all and being fed by a prompter in the wings; but perhaps it is simply an image of a baby bird taking flight from the nest (the phrase is attested in this sense from 1875). Related: Winged; winging.