Where does “camouflet” come from?
camouflet (French) comes from Italian camuffare, from Italian muffare, from Medieval Latin muffula, from Frankish molfell, from Middle High German mol, from Old High German mol, from Proto-Germanic mulô, from Proto-Indo-European molh₂-o- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
camouflet (French): snub, affront; camouflet
Definitions
- snub, affront; camouflet
Ancestry of “camouflet”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | camuffare | To disguise; To hide |
| 2 | Italian | muffare | to become mouldy |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | muffula | a muff; muff |
| 4 | Frankish | molfell | soft garment made of hide |
| 5 | Middle High German | mol | — |
| 6 | Old High German | mol | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | mulô | muzzle |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | molh₂-o- | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |