Where does “molar” come from?

molar (Catalan) comes from Spanish molar, from Latin molaris, from Latin mola, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

molar (Catalan): molar; that grinds

Definitions

  1. molar; that grinds

Ancestry of “molar”, step by step

molar traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Spanish molar

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishmolarmolar; to rule, rock
2Latinmolarismillstone; molar; second-person singular present...
3Latinmolamillstone; mill; ground meal
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Catalan mola

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Catalanmolamillstone; grindstone; mass
2Latinmōlēsmultitude, mass (of material)
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂- →