Where does “rainmaker” come from?

rainmaker (English) comes from English maker, from Middle English maker, from Middle English maken, from Old English macian, from Emilian mâcia, from Latin Macula, from Proto-Indo-European smh₁-tleh₂, from Proto-Indo-European smeh₁- — smear, rub.

rainmaker (English): Someone or something that causes or attempts to...

Definitions

  1. Someone or something that causes or attempts to...

Ancestry of “rainmaker”, step by step

rainmaker traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English maker

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmakerSomeone who makes; a person or thing that makes...
2Middle EnglishmakerGod as creator of all; Someone who makes; a...
3Middle EnglishmakenTo make or create; to have something made
4Old Englishmacianto make
5Emilianmâciaspot, stain
6LatinMacula
7Proto-Indo-Europeansmh₁-tleh₂
8Proto-Indo-Europeansmeh₁-smear, rub

via English rain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrainCondensed water falling from a cloud; Any matter...
2Middle Englishreynrain water falling from a cloud
3Old Englishreġnrain
4Proto-West Germanicregnrain
5Proto-Germanicregnąrain
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHreǵ-to flow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smeh₁-Every word from Proto-Indo-European smh₁-tleh₂Every word from Latin Macula
rainmaker — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer