Where does “bréfaklemma” come from?

bréfaklemma (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic bréf, from Old Norse bréf, from Latin breve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰus, from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ- — short.

bréfaklemma (Icelandic): paper clip

Definitions

  1. paper clip

Ancestry of “bréfaklemma”, step by step

bréfaklemma traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic bréf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicbréfa letter; an epistle; a document
2Old Norsebréf
3Latinbrevenominative neuter singular of brevis; accusative...
4Latinbrevisshort, small, little, narrow; brief, short;...
5Proto-Italic*breɣʷis
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmréǵʰusshort; brief
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmreǵʰ-short

via Icelandic klemma

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicklemmaclamp, clip; peg; tight spot, jam, pickle
2Proto-Germanicklimbanąto climb
3Proto-Germanicklībanąto stick, cling to
4Proto-Indo-Europeangleybʰ-to stick
5Proto-Indo-Europeangley-to glue, paste, stick together; to glue, stick...
6Proto-Indo-Europeangel-to be cold, to freeze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mreǵʰ-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mréǵʰusEvery word from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis