Where does “Kleinkind” come from?

Kleinkind (German) comes from German klein, from Middle High German klein, from Old High German kleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

Kleinkind (German): toddler

Definitions

  1. toddler

Ancestry of “Kleinkind”, step by step

Kleinkind traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German klein

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankleinsmall, little, tiny, wee, small-scale; little,...
2Middle High Germanklein
3Old High Germankleinismall, fine, slender; soft, clean; smart,...
4Proto-West Germanic*klainīfine, small
5Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
6Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

via German kind

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankindkid; child young person
2Middle High Germankintkid; child
3Old High Germankindkid; child
4Proto-West Germanickindchild
5Proto-GermanickindąAlternative form of *kinþą; child; offspring
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel-