Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “machine” come from?

machine (French) comes from Middle French machine, from Latin māchina, from Ancient Greek μαχανά, from Ancient Greek μηχανή, from Ancient Greek μῆχος, from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ-.

machine (French): machine, device; machine

Definitions

  1. machine, device; machine

Ancestry of “machine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchmachinemachine; device
2Latinmāchina—
3Ancient GreekμαχανάDoric form of μηχᾰνή
4Ancient Greekμηχανήcontrivance, machine, device, gear; way, means
5Ancient Greekμῆχοςmeans, expedient, remedy
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeǵʰ-—

Words derived from “machine”

  • machinery
  • turbomachinery
  • nanomachinery
  • micromachinery
  • political machinery
  • machinisme
  • machin
  • machinerie
  • machines
  • Maschinenraum
  • Maschinengewehr
  • Maschinenmusik
  • Waschmaschine
  • Suchmaschine
  • Maschine
  • maschinenlesbar
  • Fräsmaschine
  • Nähmaschine
  • Maschinensprache
  • Landmaschine
  • Maschinenbau
  • Bohrmaschine
  • Geschirrspülmaschine
  • Dampfmaschine
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meǵʰ- →