Where does “cavefish” come from?

cavefish (English) comes from English Fish, from Old English fiscian, from Proto-West Germanic fiskōn, from Proto-Germanic fiskōną, from Proto-Germanic -ōną, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé- — he, she.

cavefish (English): Any of various fish, typically blind and lacking...

Definitions

  1. Any of various fish, typically blind and lacking...

Ancestry of “cavefish”, step by step

cavefish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Fish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFishThe constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces
2Old Englishfiscianto fish
3Proto-West Germanicfiskōnto fish, to catch fish
4Proto-Germanicfiskōnąto fish, to catch fish
5Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
9Chichewaiyehe, she

via English cave

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcaveA large, naturally-occurring cavity formed...
2Middle EnglishcaveA cave or cavern
3Old Frenchcave
4Latincavanominative feminine singular of cavus; nominative...
5Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
6Proto-Italickawos
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong
Every word from Chichewa iye
cavefish — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer