Where does “Knickbus” come from?

Knickbus (German) comes from German Bus, from English bus, from English omnibus, from French omnibus, from Latin omnibus, from Latin omnis, from Proto-Italic opnis, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ep-ni-s — to work, toil, make; ability, force.

Ancestry of “Knickbus”, step by step

Knickbus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Bus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanBusbus public transport
2EnglishbusA motor vehicle for transporting large numbers of...
3EnglishomnibusA vehicle set up to carry many people; An...
4FrenchomnibusPertaining to a local; omnibus, bus
5Latinomnibusdative masculine plural of omnis; dative feminine...
6Latinomnisevery; all
7Proto-Italicopnisevery, all
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ep-ni-sworking
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ep-to work, toil, make; ability, force

via German knicken

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanknickento crease; to fold; to bend; to be creased; to be...
2Middle Low Germanknickento bend; to snap
3Proto-Germanicknikkonąto fold, snap
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ep-
Knickbus — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer