Where does “Mesoamerica” come from?

Mesoamerica comes from Ancient Greek μέσος meaning "middle," from Proto-Hellenic métsos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European medʰi- meaning "middle."

Mesoamerica (English): A pre-Columbian cultural region extending from southern Mexico to roughly the area that comprises modern Honduras and El Salvador

Definitions

  1. A pre-Columbian cultural region extending from southern Mexico to roughly the area that comprises modern Honduras and El Salvador

Ancestry of “Mesoamerica”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishAmerica—
2LatinAmerica—
3ItalianAmerigo—
4Proto-Germanic*Amalarīks—
5Proto-GermanicHaimarīksHenry
6Proto-Germanicrīksking, ruler
7Proto-Celticrīxsking
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃rḗǵsking, ruler
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃reǵ-to straighten, to right oneself; right; just
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵs →Every word from Proto-Celtic rīxs →