Where does “Schmerzengeld” come from?

Schmerzengeld (German) comes from German geld, from Middle High German gelt, from Old High German gelt, from Proto-West Germanic geld, from Proto-Germanic geldą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeldʰ- — to repay, reward; to pay; to pay for, repay.

Ancestry of “Schmerzengeld”, step by step

Schmerzengeld traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German geld

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germangeldmoney
2Middle High Germangelt—
3Old High Germangeltpayment, money
4Proto-West Germanicgeldmoney
5Proto-GermanicgeldąThat which is paid out; reward, gift, money
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeldʰ-to repay, reward; to pay; to pay for, repay

via German schmerz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanschmerzphysical pain, ache (practically, as a sensation)
2Middle High Germansmerze—
3Old High Germansmerza—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰeldʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic geldą →Every word from Proto-West Germanic geld →
Schmerzengeld — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer