Where does “schmähen” come from?

schmähen (German) comes from Middle High German smæhen, from Old High German smāhen, from Proto-Germanic smēhijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēyg-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

schmähen (German): To revile; mock; verbally abuse; To blaspheme

Definitions

  1. To revile; mock; verbally abuse; To blaspheme

Ancestry of “schmähen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germansmæhen—
2Old High Germansmāhen—
3Proto-Germanicsmēhijanąto belittle, to despise; to reduce; belittle;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmēyg-small, delicate, thin; twig, pole; crumb; small,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear

Words derived from “schmähen”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēyg- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smēhijaną →