Where does “microfouler” come from?

microfouler (English) comes from English fouler, from English foul, from Middle English foulen, from Old English fūlian, from Proto-Germanic fūlāną, from Proto-Germanic -āną, from Proto-Germanic -ajaną, from Proto-Indo-European -oyéti — he, she.

microfouler (English): Any very small marine fouler, typically a bacterium or alga

Definitions

  1. Any very small marine fouler, typically a bacterium or alga

Ancestry of “microfouler”, step by step

microfouler traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English fouler

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfoulerOne who fouls; comparative form of foul: more...
2EnglishfoulCovered with, or containing unclean matter;...
3Middle EnglishfoulenTo dirty or foul; to make or become dirty
4Old Englishfūlianto become foul; rot; decay
5Proto-GermanicfūlānąTo become foul; rot; decay
6Proto-Germanic-ānąCreates factitive verbs from adjectives, later...
7Proto-Germanic-ajaną
8Proto-Indo-European-oyétiCreates factitive verbs from adjectives
9Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
11Chichewaiyehe, she

via English micro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmicroSmall, relatively small; short form of...
2Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yétiEvery word from Proto-Germanic -āną