Where does “stepmum” come from?
stepmum (English) comes from English step, from English stepchild, from Middle English stepchild, from Old English stēopċild, from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic kelþaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵelt-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
stepmum (English): Stepmother
Definitions
- Stepmother
Ancestry of “stepmum”, step by step
stepmum traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | step | An advance or movement made from one foot to the... |
| 2 | English | stepchild | The child of one's spouse but not one's own; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | stepchild | stepchild child of a spouse |
| 4 | Old English | stēopċild | stepchild |
| 5 | Old English | ċild | child, youth; fetus; female baby; child |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | kelþaz | fetus; newborn; infant; child |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵelt- | womb |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
via English mum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mum | Mother; ma'am; a term of respect for an older... |
| 2 | English | chrysanthemum | Any of many flowering perennial plants, of the... |
| 3 | Latin | chrysanthemum | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | χρυσάνθεμον | gold-flower; immortelle; buttercup |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ἄνθεμον | flower, rosette |