Where does “microknife” come from?

microknife (English) comes from English knife, from Middle English knyf, from Old English cnīf, from Old Norse knífr, from Proto-Germanic knībaz, from Proto-Germanic knīpaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ-.

microknife (English): A knife used in microsurgery

Definitions

  1. A knife used in microsurgery

Ancestry of “microknife”, step by step

microknife traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English knife

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishknifeA utensil or a tool designed for cutting,...
2Middle EnglishknyfA knife as a tool or instrument; the following...
3Old Englishcnīfknife
4Old Norseknífrknife
5Proto-Germanicknībazpincers; shears; knife
6Proto-Germanicknīpanąto pinch
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵneybʰ-

via English micro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmicroSmall, relatively small; short form of...
2Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵneybʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic knīpanąEvery word from Proto-Germanic knībaz