Where does “Riechkolben” come from?

Riechkolben (German) comes from German Kolben, from Middle High German kolbe, from Old High German cholpo, from Proto-Germanic kolbô, from Proto-Indo-European gel- — to be cold, to freeze.

Riechkolben (German): olfactory bulb; nose, big nose, conk

Definitions

  1. olfactory bulb; nose, big nose, conk

Ancestry of “Riechkolben”, step by step

Riechkolben traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Kolben

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanKolbenbutt of a rifle; piston; spadix
2Middle High Germankolbeclub
3Old High Germancholpo—
4Proto-Germanickolbô—
5Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze

via German riechen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanriechento smell (something); to sniff (something)
2Old High Germanriohhanto smell; to smoke
3Proto-West Germanicreukanto smoke, to give off smoke
4Proto-Germanicreukanąto smoke, to give off a vapour
5Proto-Indo-Europeanrougi-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic kolbô →Every word from Old High German cholpo →