The word "walkout" is a transparent compound formed within Modern English from the native Germanic verbs "walk" and "out." Its formation follows a common pattern where a verb-particle combination is nominalized to describe the resulting action or event. The literal sense of "walking out" of a place was metaphorically extended in the late 19th century, particularly in labor and political contexts, to signify a collective act of protest or withdrawal. This evolution captures the physical action (leaving) as a powerful symbolic gesture of dissent or rejection.

Structure: walk (move on foot) + out (outside, away) walk: From Old English wealcan (to roll, toss) and wealcian (to roll up, curl), via Middle English walken (to move about). In this compound, it functions as the verb base meaning "to go". out: From Old English ūt (out, outside, away), functioning as an adverbial particle indicating direction or result.