Where does “Briefwechsel” come from?

Briefwechsel (German) comes from German brief, from Middle High German brief, from Old High German briaf, from Latin breve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰus, from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ- — short.

Briefwechsel (German): exchange of letters, communication; a collection...

Definitions

  1. exchange of letters, communication; a collection...

Ancestry of “Briefwechsel”, step by step

Briefwechsel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German brief

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanbriefletter (written message)
2Middle High Germanbrief
3Old High Germanbriaf
4Latinbrevenominative neuter singular of brevis; accusative...
5Latinbrevisshort, small, little, narrow; brief, short;...
6Proto-Italic*breɣʷis
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmréǵʰusshort; brief
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmreǵʰ-short

via German Wechsel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanWechselchange; bill of exchange
2Middle High Germanwëhsel
3Old High Germanwehsal
4Proto-Germanicwihslazchange
5Proto-Indo-Europeanweyk-to separate, to choose; to contain, to envelop;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ-