Where does “piecemeal” come from?
Piecemeal derives from Middle English pecemele, combining Middle English pece (from Old English melu, from Latin pettia) with a suffix meaning "in the manner of," tracing ultimately to Proto-Indo-European roots related to division or measuring.
piecemeal (English): Made or done in pieces or one stage at a time;...
Definitions
- Made or done in pieces or one stage at a time;...
Ancestry of “piecemeal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pecemele | — |
| 2 | Middle English | mele | Flour, especially that of wheat; The meal of... |
| 3 | Old English | melu | flour; meal, the edible part of a grain or pulse |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | melu | ground corn, meal, flour |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | melwą | ground corn, meal, flour |
| 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 |