Where does “mum” come from?
I need to flag an issue: the chain provided (English mam → Ancient Greek χρυσός) doesn't make semantic sense. Ancient Greek χρυσός means "gold," which has no apparent connection to "mam" (typically meaning "mother" in English dialects). This chain appears incorrect or the headword/meaning pairing doesn't match the etymology provided. I cannot write an accurate one-sentence summary without a valid etymological chain. Could you verify: 1. Is the headword "mum" or "mam"? 2. Is the chain complete and correct? 3. What is the actual meaning being traced?
mum (English): Mother; ma'am; a term of respect for an older...
Definitions
- Mother; ma'am; a term of respect for an older...
Ancestry of “mum”, step by step
mum traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English chrysanthemum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | chrysanthemum | Any of many flowering perennial plants, of the... |
| 2 | Latin | chrysanthemum | — |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | χρυσάνθεμον | gold-flower; immortelle; buttercup |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἄνθεμον | flower, rosette |
via Middle English mum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | mum | — |
via German Mumme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Mumme | dative of Mumm; mask |