Where does “Leihmutter” come from?

Leihmutter (German) comes from German leihen, from Middle High German līhen, from Old High German līhan, from Proto-West Germanic līhwan, from Proto-Germanic līhwaną, from Proto-Indo-European léykʷt, from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ- — to leave.

Leihmutter (German): surrogate mother

Definitions

  1. surrogate mother

Ancestry of “Leihmutter”, step by step

Leihmutter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German leihen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanleihento lend; to loan; to borrow
2Middle High Germanlīhento loan, to lend, to award, to gift
3Old High Germanlīhan
4Proto-West Germaniclīhwanto lend
5Proto-Germaniclīhwanąto lend
6Proto-Indo-Europeanléykʷtto leave
7Proto-Indo-Europeanleykʷ-to leave

via German mutter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmuttermother
2Middle High Germanmuotermother
3Old High Germanmuotermother
4Old Frisianmōder
5Proto-Germanicmōdērmother
6Proto-Indo-Europeanméh₂tērmother
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leykʷ-
Leihmutter — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer