Where does “micromoth” come from?

micromoth (English) comes from English micro, from Ancient Greek μικρός, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.

micromoth (English): A member of the microlepidoptera, an unranked (and not monophyletic) grouping of moth families, generally with wingspans of under 20 millimetres; a small moth

Definitions

  1. A member of the microlepidoptera, an unranked (and not monophyletic) grouping of moth families, generally with wingspans of under 20 millimetres; a small moth

Ancestry of “micromoth”, step by step

micromoth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English micro

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmicroSmall, relatively small; short form of...
2Ancient Greekμικρόςlittle, small
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear

via English moth

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmothA usually nocturnal insect of the order...
2Hindiमोठmat, mot
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēy-
micromoth — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer