Where does “male” come from?

male (Anglo-Norman) comes from Old French male, from Medieval Latin mala, from Proto-Italic smakslā, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

male (Anglo-Norman): pack, bag

Definitions

  1. pack, bag

Ancestry of “male”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchmalepack, bag
2Medieval Latinmalacheekbone, jaw; cheek; bundle, bag
3Proto-Italicsmakslā—
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear

Words derived from “male”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēk- →Every word from Proto-Italic smakslā →