Where does “smith” come from?
Smith comes from Middle English smith, from Old English smiþ, from Proto-Germanic smiþaz, from Proto-Indo-European smēy- with the suffix -eh₂.
smith (English): A craftsperson who works metal into desired forms...
Definitions
- A craftsperson who works metal into desired forms...
Ancestry of “smith”, step by step
smith traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English smith
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | smith | Alternative form of smyth |
| 2 | Old English | smiþ | smith |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *smiþ | craftsman, smith |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | smiþaz | craftsman, smith |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | smēy- | — |
via Middle English smyth
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | smyth | A blacksmith; one who works with iron; A... |