Where does “tomma” come from?
tomma (Icelandic) comes from Danish tømme, from Old Danish thumæ, from Old Norse þumi, from Proto-Germanic þūmô, from Proto-Indo-European tūm-, from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂- — to swell; to crowd; to be strong.
tomma (Icelandic): inch
Ancestry of “tomma”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Danish | tømme | rein; to empty |
| 2 | Old Danish | thumæ | — |
| 3 | Old Norse | þumi | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | þūmô | thumb |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | tūm- | to grow; to swell, to increase; to swell, be... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tewh₂- | to swell; to crowd; to be strong |