Where does “mailgram” come from?
mailgram (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.
mailgram (English): A telegraphic message transmitted electronically...
Definitions
- A telegraphic message transmitted electronically...
Ancestry of “mailgram”, step by step
mailgram traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English mail
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | A bag or wallet; A bag containing letters to be... | |
| 2 | Middle English | mal | — |
| 3 | Old English | māl | speech, contract, agreement; suit, case, action,... |
| 4 | Old Norse | mál | language; speech; matter, affair |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | mēlą | measure, measurement; time, occasion; point in... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via English Gram
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gram | Clipping of Instagram |
| 2 | French | gramme | gram |
| 3 | Latin | gramma | gram |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γράμμα | that which is written, that which is drawn,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |