Where does “smallmouth” come from?
Smallmouth derives from English small and mouth, with small tracing back through Middle English smal and Old English smæl to Proto-Germanic munþaz and ultimately Proto-Indo-European men-.
smallmouth (English): A species of freshwater bass, Micropterus...
Definitions
- A species of freshwater bass, Micropterus...
Ancestry of “smallmouth”, step by step
smallmouth traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English mouth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mouth | The opening of a creature through which food is... |
| 2 | Middle English | mouþ | Alternative form of mouth |
| 3 | Old English | mūþ | mouth, opening, door, gate |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *munþ | mouth |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | munþaz | mouth |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |
via English Small
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Small | Not large or big; insignificant; few in number |
| 2 | Middle English | smal | Small, miniscule; Little, few, scarce; Ground... |
| 3 | Old English | smæl | narrow, slim; not broad; slender; not thick;... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | smal | small |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | smalaz | small |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)mal- | small; little |