Wye
/waɪ/noun
A Y-shaped junction, channel, or fitting; also the letter Y in some contexts.
Did you know?English wye is a later spelling of the letter-name y, and its shape-based meaning is tied to the same ancient branch of the alphabet that gave us Y.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*u̯ei-
“to turn, bend, or wind”
Proto-Italic
PI
*ui-
“to curve or bend”
Latin
Latin
uīcus
“a village or settlement, originally a winding group of houses”
Old English
OE
wī
“the letter Y”
14th Century
English
wye
“the name of the letter Y”
Modern English
English
wye
“a Y-shaped junction or fitting”