Where does “gamefish” come from?

gamefish (English) comes from English game, from Middle English game, from Old English gamen, from Proto-West Germanic gaman, from Proto-Germanic gamaną, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

gamefish (English): Fish deemed suitable for the sport of angling, as...

Definitions

  1. Fish deemed suitable for the sport of angling, as...

Ancestry of “gamefish”, step by step

gamefish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English game

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgameA playful or competitive activity; A video game;...
2Middle EnglishgameEntertainment or an instance of it; that which is...
3Old Englishgamengame, sport, or pastime; joy, mirth, or pleasure
4Proto-West Germanicgamanpleasure, fun, amusement, entertainment
5Proto-Germanicgamanąa fellow human, associate, companion; pleasure,...
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt
10Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
11Old High Germankuti
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

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
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-