Where does “rear-view mirror” come from?

rear-view mirror (English) comes from English mirror, from Middle English mirour, from Old French mireor, from Old French mirer, from Latin mīror, from Latin mīrus, from Proto-Italic smeiros, from Proto-Indo-European sméyros — to smile; to smear, stroke, wipe, rub; to be...

rear-view mirror (English): a mirror inside a vehicle that allows the driver...

Definitions

  1. a mirror inside a vehicle that allows the driver...

Ancestry of “rear-view mirror”, step by step

rear-view mirror traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English mirror

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmirrorA smooth surface, usually made of glass with...
2Middle EnglishmirourA mirror, looking-glass, or other reflective...
3Old Frenchmireormirror; a typical example
4Old Frenchmirerto look at; to watch
5Latinmīrorto be astonished at, marvel at, admire, be amazed at, wonder at
6Latinmīruswonderful, marvelous, amazing, surprising, miraculous
7Proto-Italicsmeiros
8Proto-Indo-Europeansméyroslaughing, smiling
9Proto-Indo-Europeansmey-to smile; to smear, stroke, wipe, rub; to be...

via English rearview

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrearviewThat provides a view from the rear; Synonym of...
2EnglishrearTo bring up to maturity, as offspring; to...
3Middle EnglishrerenTo raise; to hold or pull up or suspend upwards;...
4Old Englishrǣranto cause to rise, raise, rear, build, create; to...
5Proto-Germanicraizijanąto cause to rise; raise
6Proto-Germanicrīsanąto scale; move vertically; to rise
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁rey-to arise, arise; to rise, arise; to rise; arise
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European sméyrosEvery word from Proto-Italic smeiros