Swerve
/swɜːrv/noun
To change direction suddenly or unexpectedly; to deviate from a course or standard.
Did you know?English also has the related word “whirl,” from the same ancient PIE root *swer- / *swerbʰ- behind the whole family of twisting, turning motion words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*swer- / *swerbʰ-
“to turn, bend, or twist”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*swerbaną
“to turn, sweep around, or move in a curved way”
Old English
English
sweorfan
“to rub, polish, or wear away by friction”
Middle English
English
swerven
“to turn aside, deviate, or move off course”
Modern English
English
swerve
“to change direction suddenly or depart from a straight course”