Where does “steampunk” come from?

steampunk (English) comes from English steam, from Middle English steem, from Old English stēam, from Proto-Germanic staumaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- — to die, pass away; to run, flow.

steampunk (English): A subgenre of science fiction that depicts...

Definitions

  1. A subgenre of science fiction that depicts...

Ancestry of “steampunk”, step by step

steampunk traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English steam

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsteamThe vapor formed when water changes from liquid...
2Middle Englishsteem—
3Old Englishstēamsteam, hot exhalation, hot breath; that which...
4Proto-Germanicstaumazsteam, vapour
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰew-to die, pass away; to run, flow

via English punk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpunkA person used for sex, particularly; A worthless...
2Unamipunkwashes; dust; powder
3Proto-Algonquianpenkwidust, ash
4Proto-Algicpenekwepowder

Words derived from “steampunk”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- →