Where does “kleinigheid” come from?
kleinigheid (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.
kleinigheid (Dutch): bagatelle, trifle
Ancestry of “kleinigheid”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | klein | small, little; almost |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | cleine | small; short; unimportant |
| 3 | Old Dutch | cleini | small |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *klainī | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | klainiz | shining, fine, splendid; tender, precious |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | g(e)lēi- | gleaming |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |