Where does “moles” come from?
moles (English) comes from English mole, from Middle English mole, from Old English māl, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
moles (English): plural of mole
Definitions
- plural of mole
Ancestry of “moles”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mole | A pigmented spot on the skin, a naevus, slightly... |
| 2 | Middle English | mole | — |
| 3 | Old English | māl | speech, contract, agreement; suit, case, action,... |
| 4 | Old Norse | mál | language; speech; matter, affair |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | mēlą | measure, measurement; time, occasion; point in... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |