Where does “milkstache” come from?

milkstache (English) comes from English milk, from Middle English milk, from Old English meolc, from Proto-West Germanic meluk, from Proto-Germanic meluks, from Proto-Indo-European h₂melǵ- — to milk; milk.

milkstache (English): The residue left upon the upper lip area after drinking milk, a milkshake, foamy coffee, etc

Definitions

  1. The residue left upon the upper lip area after drinking milk, a milkshake, foamy coffee, etc

Ancestry of “milkstache”, step by step

milkstache traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English milk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmilkA white liquid produced by the mammary glands of...
2Middle Englishmilkmilk
3Old Englishmeolcmilk
4Proto-West Germanicmelukmilk
5Proto-Germanicmeluksmilk
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂melǵ-to milk; milk

via English moustache

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmoustacheA growth of facial hair between the nose and the...
2Frenchmoustachemoustache, mustache; whisker
3Italianmostacciomoustache; mug
4Ancient Greekμύσταξupper lip or moustache
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmendʰ-to see; strive; long for; be zealous for; be...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂melǵ-
milkstache — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer