Where does “sailfish” come from?

sailfish (English) comes from English Fish, from Old English fiscian, from Proto-West Germanic fiskōn, from Proto-Germanic fiskōną, from Proto-Germanic -ōną, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti, from Proto-Indo-European yé- — he, she.

sailfish (English): A fish of the genus Istiophorus, having a...

Definitions

  1. A fish of the genus Istiophorus, having a...

Ancestry of “sailfish”, step by step

sailfish traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Fish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishFishThe constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces
2Old Englishfiscianto fish
3Proto-West Germanicfiskōnto fish, to catch fish
4Proto-Germanicfiskōnąto fish, to catch fish
5Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
9Chichewaiyehe, she

via English sail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsailA piece of fabric attached to a boat and arranged...
2Middle EnglishsaileAlternative form of assailen
3Proto-Germanicsegląsheet; sail
4Proto-Germanicsiglą
Every word from Chichewa iye
sailfish — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer