Where does “groundling” come from?

groundling (English) comes from English ground, from Middle English ground, from Old English grund, from Proto-Germanic grunduz, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrem-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰer- — to rub; to stroke; to grind.

groundling (English): Any of various plants or animals living on or...

Definitions

  1. Any of various plants or animals living on or...

Ancestry of “groundling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgroundThe surface of the Earth, as opposed to the sky...
2Middle Englishgroundground; Earth
3Old Englishgrundground; bottom, foundation; abyss, depths
4Proto-Germanicgrunduzground, foundation
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrem-to be angry; to sound, bellow, growl, roar, be...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰer-to rub; to stroke; to grind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰrem-Every word from Proto-Germanic grunduz