Where does “mayhem” come from?
Mayhem comes from Middle English mayme, from Anglo-Norman mahaim and Old French mahaign, ultimately from Proto-Germanic maidijaną and Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to injure or mutilate.
mayhem (English): A state or situation of great confusion,...
Definitions
- A state or situation of great confusion,...
Ancestry of “mayhem”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | mahaym | — |
| 2 | Middle French | mehaignier | to injure; to destroy or ravage |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | maidijaną | to exchange, change |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | maidaz | hurt, wounded; mad, foolish; angry, enraged |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy- | soft, tender, dear |