Where does “Einmaleins” come from?

Einmaleins (German) comes from German māl, from Middle High German māl, from Old High German māl, from Proto-West Germanic māl, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Einmaleins (German): multiplication table; times table; basic...

Definitions

  1. multiplication table; times table; basic...

Ancestry of “Einmaleins”, step by step

Einmaleins traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via German māl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmāl
2Middle High Germanmāl
3Old High Germanmāla time; spot, stain
4Proto-West Germanicmāltime, occasion; mealtime
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via German ein

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germaneinone; a, an; indicating motion into something
2Middle High Germaneinone
3Old High Germaneinone; only
4Proto-West Germanicainone
5Proto-Germanicainazone; some
6Proto-Indo-Europeanóynosone; single

via German eins

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germaneinsone; one, one o'clock; Alternative form of eines:...
2Middle High Germaneines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-