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

zigmal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German māl

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

via German zig

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanzigumpteen, tens of, dozens of
2German-zig-ty
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-