Where does “hafmey” come from?

hafmey (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic mey, from Old Norse mey, from Old Norse mær, from Proto-Germanic mawī, from Proto-Indo-European magʰ- — young; can, to be able.

hafmey (Icelandic): mermaid

Definitions

  1. mermaid

Ancestry of “hafmey”, step by step

hafmey traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic mey

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicmeymaiden; virgin
2Old NorsemeyAlternative form of mær
3Old Norsemærmaid, girl, virgin; daughter; Alternative form of...
4Proto-Germanicmawīgirl
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmagʰ-young; can, to be able

via Icelandic haf

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandichafocean, sea
2Old Norsehafsea, ocean
3Proto-Germanichabąsea
4Proto-Indo-Europeankap-to seize, hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European magʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic mawī →Every word from Old Norse mær →