Where does “pussieläin” come from?

pussieläin (Finnish) comes from Finnish eläin, from Finnish elää, from Proto-Finnic elädäk, from Proto-Uralic elä- — to live.

pussieläin (Finnish): A marsupial

Definitions

  1. A marsupial

Ancestry of “pussieläin”, step by step

pussieläin traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Finnish eläin

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnisheläinanimal
2FinnishelääTo live, be alive; To live
3Proto-Finnicelädäkto live
4Proto-Uralicelä-to live

via Finnish pussi

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Finnishpussibag, pouch, sac; pouch; pocket
2Old Swedishpusi—
3Proto-Germanicpusôbag, sack, scrip
Every word from Proto-Uralic elä- →Every word from Proto-Finnic elädäk →Every word from Finnish elää →