Where does “scumbreath” come from?
scumbreath (English) comes from English scum, from Middle English scum, from Middle Dutch schūme, from Old Dutch *scūm, from Frankish skūm, from Proto-Germanic skūmaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kewH- — to cover, bedeck; cover.
Ancestry of “scumbreath”, step by step
scumbreath traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English scum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | scum | A layer of impurities that accumulates at the... |
| 2 | Middle English | scum | — |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | schūme | foam |
| 4 | Old Dutch | *scūm | — |
| 5 | Frankish | skūm | foam; froth, foam |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skūmaz | film; grime; scum; foam; froth; yeast |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |
via English breath
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | breath | The act or process of breathing; A single act of... |
| 2 | Middle English | breeth | breath |
| 3 | Old English | brǣþ | odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | brēþiz | vapour; steam; breath; odour, smell |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrē-t- | exhalation from heat; steam |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |