Where does “smiley” come from?

smiley (English) comes from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

smiley (English): Cheerful and happy; smiling; Having one's throat...

Definitions

  1. Cheerful and happy; smiling; Having one's throat...

Ancestry of “smiley”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
2Middle Englishsmilento smile
3Old Norsesmīlato smile
4Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-—

Words derived from “smiley”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną →Every word from Old Norse smīla →