Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- Proto-Indo-European *kʷekʷléh₂ Proto-Germanic *hweulō Old English hwēol Middle English whel Proto-Indo-European *bʰer-der. Proto-Germanic *barwijǭ Proto-West Germanic *barwijā Old English *bearwe Middle English barwe Middle English whelbarwe English wheelbarrow From Middle English whelbarwe; equivalent to wheel + barrow.