Where does “vandfly” come from?

vandfly (Danish) comes from Danish fly, from Danish flyvemaskine, from Danish maskine, from Latin māchina, from Ancient Greek μαχανά, from Ancient Greek μηχανή, from Ancient Greek μῆχος, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- — to be able.

vandfly (Danish): seaplane

Definitions

  1. seaplane

Ancestry of “vandfly”, step by step

vandfly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish fly

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishflyairplane; to flee; to shun
2Danishflyvemaskineairplane, aeroplane
3Danishmaskinemachine; engine
4Latinmāchinacontrivance
5Ancient GreekμαχανάDoric form of μηχᾰνή
6Ancient Greekμηχανήcontrivance, machine, device, gear; way, means
7Ancient Greekμῆχοςmeans, expedient, remedy
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able

via Danish vand

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishvandwater; sea; soft drink
2Old Danishwatn
3Old Norsevatnwater; lake; waterway, river
4Proto-Germanicwatōrwater
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwódr̥water
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-Every word from Ancient Greek μῆχοςEvery word from Ancient Greek μηχανή