Where does “starfishlike” come from?

starfishlike (English) comes from English starfish, from English Fish, from Old English fiscian, from Proto-West Germanic fiskōn, from Proto-Germanic fiskōną, from Proto-Germanic -ōną, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

starfishlike (English): Resembling or characteristic of a starfish

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of a starfish

Ancestry of “starfishlike”, step by step

starfishlike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English starfish

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstarfishAny of various echinoderms (not in fact fish) with usually five arms, many of which eat bivalves or corals by everting their stomach
2EnglishFishThe constellation and zodiacal sign Pisces
3Old Englishfiscianto fish
4Proto-West Germanicfiskōnto fish, to catch fish
5Proto-Germanicfiskōnąto fish, to catch fish
6Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English like

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishlikeTo enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;...
2Dutchluikhatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych
3Middle Dutchluke
4Dutchluikento close, to shut
5Middle Dutchlukento close, to shut; to close, to become closed
6Old Dutchlūcanto close, shut
7Proto-West Germaniclūkanto close, to shut
8Proto-Germaniclūkanąto close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną
9Proto-Indo-Europeanlewǵ-to break, tear; to break, shatter
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yétiEvery word from Proto-Germanic -ōną
starfishlike — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer