Where does “power bottom” come from?

power bottom (English) comes from English Power, from Middle English power, from Anglo-Norman poer, from Latin potēre, from Latin posse, from Latin potis, from Proto-Italic potis, from Proto-Indo-European pótis — to drink.

power bottom (English): A person, particularly a homosexual man, who...

Definitions

  1. A person, particularly a homosexual man, who...

Ancestry of “power bottom”, step by step

power bottom traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Power

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPowerA button of a computer, a video game console, or...
2Middle EnglishpowerAbility, power or capability
3Anglo-Normanpoer
4Latinpotēre
5Latinpossepresent active infinitive of possum  "to be able...
6Latinpotisable, capable, possible
7Proto-Italicpotismaster, in control of
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpótismaster, ruler; husband
9Proto-Indo-Europeanph₃tis
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₃-to drink

via English bottom

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbottomThe lowest part of anything; Character,...
2Middle EnglishbotmeThe lowest section of something; the bottom,...
3Old Englishbotmbottom; foundation; ground; abyss
4Proto-Germanicbutmazbottom; foundation; ground; abyss
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₃-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ph₃tisEvery word from Proto-Indo-European pótis