Where does “mei” come from?
mei (Friulian) comes from Latin milium, from Proto-Italic meljom, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
mei (Friulian): millet
Ancestry of “mei”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | milium | millet; genitive plural of mīlle |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | meljom | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |