Where does “meddle” come from?

Meddle comes from Middle English medlen, from Anglo-Norman medler, from Old French meller and mesler, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mey- meaning to mix or change.

meddle (English): To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with...

Definitions

  1. To interfere in or with; to concern oneself with...

Ancestry of “meddle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishmedlento meddle
2Anglo-Normanmesler—
3Latinmisculāre—
4Latinmisceōto mix; to mingle; to intermingle
5Proto-Italicmikskōto mix
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmiḱ-sḱé-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmeyḱ-to mix
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “meddle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European meyḱ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European miḱ-sḱé- →