maneuver

The story

1. Frankish · derived from*handuwerk“hand-work”
2. Medieval Latin · derived frommanopera
3. Old French · derived frommanovre“handwork, manual labor”
4. Middle French · derived frommanœuvre“manipulation, maneuver”
5. English todaymaneuver

From Middle French manœuvre (“manipulation, maneuver”) and manouvrer (“to maneuver”), from Old French manovre (“handwork, manual labor”), from Medieval Latin manopera, manuopera (“work done by hand, handwork”), from manu (“by hand”) + operari (“to work”). First recorded in the Capitularies of Charlemagne (800 AD) to mean "chore, manual task", probably as a calque of the Frankish *handuwerk (“hand-work”). Compare Old English handweorc, Old English handġeweorc, German Handwerk. The verb is a doublet of the verb manure.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 18th c. The planned movement of troops, vehicles etc.; a strategic repositioning; (later also) a large training field-exercise of fighting units.
• from 18th c. Any strategic or cunning action; a stratagem.
• from 18th c. A movement of the body, or with an implement, instrument etc., especially one performed with skill or dexterity.
• from 18th c. A specific medical or surgical movement, often eponymous, done with the doctor's hands or surgical instruments.
• from 18th c. A controlled (especially skillful) movement taken while steering a vehicle.