Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “softbottom” come from?

softbottom (English) comes from English bottom, from Middle English botme, from Old English botm, from Proto-Germanic butmaz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰudʰmḗn, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

softbottom (English): A soft seafloor, typically composed of muddy...

Definitions

  1. A soft seafloor, typically composed of muddy...

Ancestry of “softbottom”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbottomThe lowest part of anything; Character,...
2Middle EnglishbotmeThe lowest section of something; the bottom,...
3Old Englishbotmbottom; foundation; ground; abyss
4Proto-Germanicbutmazbottom; foundation; ground; abyss
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →