Where does “mailsack” come from?
mailsack (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.
mailsack (English): Synonym of mailbag
Definitions
- Synonym of mailbag
Ancestry of “mailsack”, step by step
mailsack 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 Sack
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Sack | A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel |
| 2 | Middle English | sak | bag, sackcloth |
| 3 | Old English | sacc | sack, bag |
| 4 | Old English | sæcc | battle, strife, fighting |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | sakku | sack, bag |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | sakkuz | sack, bag, purse |
| 7 | Latin | saccus | sack, bag; purse, wallet, moneybag; garment of... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | σάκκος | sack; sackcloth; sackcloth vestment, penitential... |