Where does “kissankieli” come from?

kissankieli (Finnish) comes from Finnish kieli, from Proto-Finnic keeli, from Proto-Uralic käle — tongue; language.

kissankieli (Finnish): ladyfinger; cat's tongue

Definitions

  1. ladyfinger; cat's tongue

Ancestry of “kissankieli”, step by step

kissankieli traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish kieli

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishkielitongue; language; string
2Proto-Finnickeelitongue; language
3Proto-Uralickäletongue; language

via Finnish kissa

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishkissacat; cat, chick, fox
2Swedishkissecat, kitty
3Swedishkisspee, wee, tinkle, urine
Every word from Proto-Uralic käle →Every word from Proto-Finnic keeli →Every word from Finnish kieli →