Where does “bumper sticker” come from?

bumper sticker (English) comes from English bumper, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

bumper sticker (English): An adhesive label or decal, usually applied to the bumper or back end of an automobile, and displaying a short political, promotional, philosophical, or humorous message

Definitions

  1. An adhesive label or decal, usually applied to the bumper or back end of an automobile, and displaying a short political, promotional, philosophical, or humorous message

Ancestry of “bumper sticker”, step by step

bumper sticker traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English bumper

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbumperSomeone or something that bumps; A drinking...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English sticker

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstickerSomething or someone that sticks; One who sticks...
2EnglishstickAn elongated piece of wood or similar material,...
3Middle Englishstikketwig, branch; kindling, twigs used as a...
4Old Englishsticcastick
5Proto-West Germanic*stikkōstick, pole
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti