Where does “Schmutzfink” come from?

Schmutzfink (German) comes from German Fink, from Middle High German vinke, from Old High German finco, from Proto-Germanic finkô, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ping- — small bird, sparrow.

Schmutzfink (German): litterbug; slob

Definitions

  1. litterbug; slob

Ancestry of “Schmutzfink”, step by step

Schmutzfink traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German Fink

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanFinkfinch
2Middle High Germanvinke—
3Old High GermanfincoA finch
4Proto-Germanicfinkôfinch
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ping-small bird, sparrow

via German Schmutz

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchmutzdirt
2Middle High Germansmuz—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ping- →