Where does “multapenkki” come from?

multapenkki (Finnish) comes from Finnish multa, from Proto-Finnic multa, from Proto-Germanic muldō, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

multapenkki (Finnish): a (building) foundation that uses mould or soil as an insulator

Definitions

  1. a (building) foundation that uses mould or soil as an insulator

Ancestry of “multapenkki”, step by step

multapenkki traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish multa

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishmultamould; Ablative form of mä
2Proto-Finnicmultasoil, dirt, mould
3Proto-Germanicmuldōmould; soil, dirt
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Finnish penkki

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishpenkkibench; plant bed
2Old Swedishbænkerbench
3Old Norsebenkr—
4Proto-Germanicbankiza raised surface; bulge; hillock; slope; bench
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeg-to break
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂- →