Where does “Affenzirkus” come from?

Affenzirkus (German) comes from German affe, from Middle High German affe, from Old High German affo, from Proto-West Germanic apō, from Proto-Germanic apô, from Proto-Indo-European abō- — ape.

Ancestry of “Affenzirkus”, step by step

Affenzirkus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German affe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanaffemonkey or ape (male or female or of unspecified sex)
2Middle High Germanaffesimian
3Old High Germanaffomonkey; ape
4Proto-West Germanicapōape, monkey
5Proto-Germanicapôape, monkey
6Proto-Indo-Europeanabō-ape

via German Zirkus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanZirkuscircus; exaggerated and annoying ado; airs; fuss,...
2Latincircusa circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...
3Ancient Greekκρίκοςring
4Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European abō- →Every word from Proto-Germanic apô →Every word from Proto-West Germanic apō →