Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “zigmal” come from?

zigmal (German) comes from German māl, from Middle High German māl, from Old High German māl, from Proto-West Germanic māl, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

zigmal (German): umpteen times, often, regularly

Definitions

  1. umpteen times, often, regularly

Ancestry of “zigmal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanmāl—
2Middle High Germanmāl—
3Old High Germanmāla time; spot, stain
4Proto-West Germanicmāltime, occasion; mealtime
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →