Where does “Smiley” come from?

Smiley (German) comes from English smiley, from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

Smiley (German): a simplified ideogram representing human facial expressions, especially a smiling or laughing face

Definitions

  1. a simplified ideogram representing human facial expressions, especially a smiling or laughing face

Ancestry of “Smiley”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmileyCheerful and happy; smiling; Having one's throat...
2EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
3Middle Englishsmilento smile
4Old Norsesmīlato smile
5Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēy- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną →Every word from Old Norse smīla →