Where does “barfmail” come from?

barfmail (English) comes from English mail, from Middle English mal, from Old English māl, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

barfmail (English): electronic mail automatically sent in reply to a...

Definitions

  1. electronic mail automatically sent in reply to a...

Ancestry of “barfmail”, step by step

barfmail traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English mail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmailA bag or wallet; A bag containing letters to be...
2Middle Englishmal
3Old Englishmālspeech, contract, agreement; suit, case, action,...
4Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via English barf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishbarfvomit; To vomit; Of a system: to fail
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-