Where does “Hirnschmalz” come from?

Hirnschmalz (German) comes from German Schmalz, from Middle High German smalz, from Old High German smalz, from Proto-West Germanic smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smultą.

Ancestry of “Hirnschmalz”, step by step

Hirnschmalz traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Schmalz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchmalzgrease; lard; schmaltz
2Middle High Germansmalz—
3Old High Germansmalzlard, fat
4Proto-West Germanicsmaltfat, lard; oil, semi-liquid fat
5Proto-Germanic*smultą—

via German Hirn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanHirnbrain
2Middle High Germanhirne—
3Old High Germanhirnibrain
4Proto-West Germanic*hirʀnībrain
Every word from Proto-Germanic *smultą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic smalt →Every word from Old High German smalz →