Where does “schmalbrüstig” come from?

schmalbrüstig (German) comes from German schmal, from Middle High German smal, from Old High German smal, from Proto-West Germanic smal, from Proto-Germanic smalaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal- — small; little.

schmalbrüstig (German): narrow-chested

Definitions

  1. narrow-chested

Ancestry of “schmalbrüstig”, step by step

schmalbrüstig traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via German schmal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanschmalnarrow; small, slender
2Middle High Germansmal—
3Old High Germansmalsmall
4Proto-West Germanicsmalsmall
5Proto-Germanicsmalazsmall
6Proto-Indo-European(s)mal-small; little

via German brūst

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanbrūstchest
2Middle High Germanbrust—
3Old High Germanbrūstbreast, chest
4Proto-West Germanicbrustbreast, chest
5Proto-Germanicbrustsbreast, chest
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrews-to break

via German ig

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanig-y
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smalaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic smal →