Where does “merry-go-round” come from?
merry-go-round (English) comes from English merry, from Middle English mery, from Old English myriġe, from Proto-Germanic murguz, from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰus, from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ- — short.
merry-go-round (English): A carousel; a pleasure ride, typically found at...
Definitions
- A carousel; a pleasure ride, typically found at...
Ancestry of “merry-go-round”, step by step
merry-go-round traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English merry
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | merry | Jolly and full of high spirits; Festive and full... |
| 2 | Middle English | mery | Happy, joyful, pleased; in a good mood or state... |
| 3 | Old English | myriġe | merry; pleasant |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | murguz | short; brief; slow; leisurely |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mréǵʰus | short; brief |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mreǵʰ- | short |
via English go round
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | go round | To physically swirl or rotate |