Where does “muff pistol” come from?
muff pistol (English) comes from English muff, from Dutch mof, from Dutch moffel, from Middle French moufle, from Old French mofle, from Medieval Latin muffula, from Frankish molfell, from Middle High German mol — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
muff pistol (English): A small flintlock gun, usually for women, which...
Definitions
- A small flintlock gun, usually for women, which...
Ancestry of “muff pistol”, step by step
muff pistol traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English muff
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | muff | A piece of fur or cloth, usually with open ends,... |
| 2 | Dutch | mof | muff; Piece to protect pipes where they are... |
| 3 | Dutch | moffel | — |
| 4 | Middle French | moufle | — |
| 5 | Old French | mofle | thick glove |
| 6 | Medieval Latin | muffula | a muff; muff |
| 7 | Frankish | molfell | soft garment made of hide |
| 8 | Middle High German | mol | — |
| 9 | Old High German | mol | — |
| 10 | Proto-Germanic | mulô | muzzle |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | molh₂-o- | — |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 14 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via English pistol
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pistol | A handgun, with a chamber integrated in the... |
| 2 | Middle French | pistole | pistol |
| 3 | Middle High German | pitschal | — |
| 4 | Czech | píšťala | whistle |
| 5 | Old Czech | píščala | whistle device used to make a whistling sound |
| 6 | Proto-Slavic | piščalь | pipe; shinbone |
| 7 | Proto-Slavic | piskati | to squeak, to whistle |
| 8 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | pīṣk- | — |