Where does “kleingeld” come from?

kleingeld (Dutch) comes from Dutch klein, from Middle Dutch cleine, from Old Dutch cleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

kleingeld (Dutch): small change

Definitions

  1. small change

Ancestry of “kleingeld”, step by step

kleingeld traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch klein

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchkleinsmall, little; almost
2Middle Dutchcleinesmall; short; unimportant
3Old Dutchcleinismall
4Proto-West Germanic*klainīfine, small
5Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
6Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

via German geld

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangeldmoney
2Middle High Germangelt—
3Old High Germangeltpayment, money
4Proto-West Germanicgeldmoney
5Proto-GermanicgeldąThat which is paid out; reward, gift, money
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeldʰ-to repay, reward; to pay; to pay for, repay

via Dutch geld

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchgeldmoney; not pregnant; male
2Middle Dutchgelde—
3Old Norsegeldryielding no milk, dry; barren, yielding no milk
4Proto-Germanicgaldaz—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →