Where does “Molotov” come from?
Molotov (Finnish) comes from Russian Молотов, from Russian мо́лот, from Proto-Slavic moltъ, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
Ancestry of “Molotov”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Russian | Молотов | Molotov |
| 2 | Russian | мо́лот | hammer |
| 3 | Proto-Slavic | moltъ | hammer |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |