Etymology Explorer › English

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

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
5Latinmīror—
6Latinmīrus—
7Proto-Italicsmeiros—
8Proto-Indo-Europeansméyroslaughing, smiling
9Proto-Indo-Europeansmey-to smile; to smear, stroke, wipe, rub; to be...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smey- →