Where does “tunnelboormachine” come from?

tunnelboormachine (Dutch) comes from Dutch machine, from French machine, from Middle French machine, from Latin māchina, from Ancient Greek μαχανά, from Ancient Greek μηχανή, from Ancient Greek μῆχος, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- — to be able.

tunnelboormachine (Dutch): tunnel boring machine a large machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section

Definitions

  1. tunnel boring machine a large machine used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section

Ancestry of “tunnelboormachine”, step by step

tunnelboormachine traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch machine

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchmachinemachine mechanical or electrical device
2Frenchmachinemachine, device; machine
3Middle Frenchmachinemachine; device
4Latinmāchinacontrivance
5Ancient GreekμαχανάDoric form of μηχᾰνή
6Ancient Greekμηχανήcontrivance, machine, device, gear; way, means
7Ancient Greekμῆχοςmeans, expedient, remedy
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-to be able

via Dutch tunnel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchtunneltunnel
2EnglishTunnelAn underground or underwater passage
3Old Frenchtonelbarrel
4Old Frenchtonelarge barrel
5Late Latintunnatun, box
6Proto-Celtictunnahide, skin

via Dutch boren

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchborento drill
2Middle Dutchbōrento drill
3Old Dutchboronto drill, bore
4Proto-Germanicburōnąto drill, pierce; to bore
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰerH-to pierce; to strike; brown
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-