Where does “Springmesser” come from?

Springmesser (German) comes from German messer, from German messen, from Middle High German mëȥȥen, from Old High German mëȥȥen, from Proto-Germanic *metan, from Proto-Germanic metaną, from Proto-Indo-European mēd-, from Proto-Indo-European med- — to measure; to give advice; healing.

Springmesser (German): switchblade

Definitions

  1. switchblade

Ancestry of “Springmesser”, step by step

Springmesser traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German messer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmesserknife
2Germanmessento measure; to compete; to measure; to be a given...
3Middle High Germanmëȥȥen
4Old High Germanmëȥȥen
5Proto-Germanic*metan
6Proto-Germanicmetanąto measure
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmēd-to measure
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmed-to measure; to give advice; healing

via German springen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanspringento spring; to leap; to bounce; to dive; to jump;...
2Old High Germanspringan
3Proto-Germanicspringanąto spring, to jump up; to burst, to explode
4Proto-Indo-Europeanspr̥ǵʰ
Every word from Proto-Indo-European med-
Springmesser — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer