Where does “smiley” come from?

smiley (Danish) comes from English smiley, from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

smiley (Danish): smiley; emoticon, smiley

Definitions

  1. smiley; emoticon, smiley

Ancestry of “smiley”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmileyCheerful and happy; smiling; Having one's throat...
2EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
3Middle Englishsmilento smile
4Old Norsesmīlato smile
5Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną →Every word from Old Norse smīla →