Where does “Nixe” come from?

Nixe (German) comes from German Nix, from Middle High German nickes, from Old High German nichus, from Proto-Germanic nikwus, from Proto-Indo-European nigʷ-ō-s, from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- — to wash.

Nixe (German): mermaid

Definitions

  1. mermaid

Ancestry of “Nixe”, step by step

Nixe traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Nix

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanNixnix water demon in human form that lures people into the water and drowns them
2Middle High Germannickes—
3Old High Germannichus—
4Proto-Germanicnikwuswater-spirit; nix
5Proto-Indo-Europeannigʷ-ō-s—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanneygʷ-to wash

via Middle High German nixe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germannixe—
2Old High Germannicchessa—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European neygʷ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European nigʷ-ō-s →Every word from Proto-Germanic nikwus →
Nixe — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer