Where does “mælkevejen” come from?

mælkevejen (Danish) comes from Danish vej, from Old Norse vegr, from Proto-Germanic wēgaz, from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- — to bring; to transport.

mælkevejen (Danish): Milky Way

Definitions

  1. Milky Way

Ancestry of “mælkevejen”, step by step

mælkevejen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish vej

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishvejroad; way; route
2Old Norsevegrway, road; honour, distinction;...
3Proto-Germanicwēgazwave; sea
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵʰ-to bring; to transport

via Danish mælk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishmælkmilk; milt, roe; imperative of mælke
2Old Norsemjǫlkmilk
3Proto-Germanicmeluksmilk
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂melǵ-to milk; milk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wēgaz →Every word from Old Norse vegr →