Where does “hammasmätä” come from?

hammasmätä (Finnish) comes from Finnish hammas, from Proto-Finnic hambas, from Proto-Balto-Slavic źámbas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- — to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg.

hammasmätä (Finnish): tooth decay, dental caries

Definitions

  1. tooth decay, dental caries

Ancestry of “hammasmätä”, step by step

hammasmätä traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish hammas

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishhammastooth
2Proto-Finnichambastooth
3Proto-Balto-Slavicźámbastooth; sharp or jagged edge
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰostooth; row of teeth; peg
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰ-to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg

via Finnish mätä

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishmätärotten; fishy; pus
2Proto-Finnicmätäpus; rotten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic źámbas →