Where does “smiley” come from?
smiley (French) comes from English smiley, from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.
smiley (French): smiley
Ancestry of “smiley”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | smiley | Cheerful and happy; smiling; Having one's throat... |
| 2 | English | smile | A facial expression comprised by flexing the... |
| 3 | Middle English | smilen | to smile |
| 4 | Old Norse | smīla | to smile |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | smīlijaną | to smile |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | smēy- | — |