Where does “námsmaður” come from?

námsmaður (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic nám, from Icelandic nema, from Old Norse nema, from Proto-Germanic nemaną, from Proto-Indo-European nem- — to distribute; to give, to take.

námsmaður (Icelandic): student

Definitions

  1. student

Ancestry of “námsmaður”, step by step

námsmaður traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic nám

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicnámstudies, studying; removal
2Icelandicnemato take, capture; to mine; to amount to
3Old Norsenemato take; except, unless
4Proto-Germanicnemanąto take
5Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take

via Icelandic maður

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicmaðurhuman being, person, humanity, mankind; man,...
2Old Norsemaðrhuman, man, person; degree
3Proto-Germanic*mann-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nemaną →Every word from Old Norse nema →