Where does “amah” come from?
amah (English) comes from Portuguese ama, from Old Portuguese ama, from Medieval Latin amma, from Latin mamma, from Latin ferō, from Proto-Italic ferō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.
amah (English): In South Asia, a woman employed to look after...
Definitions
- In South Asia, a woman employed to look after...
Ancestry of “amah”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | ama | female nurse; female housekeeper; governess |
| 2 | Old Portuguese | ama | mistress |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | amma | wet nurse, amma |
| 4 | Latin | mamma | a breast; an udder; a pap; a teat, a dug |
| 5 | Latin | ferō | to bear; to carry |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | ferō | carry, bear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |