Where does “male” come from?

male (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch māla, from Proto-Germanic mēlō, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

male (Middle Dutch): trunk, travel bag

Definitions

  1. trunk, travel bag

Ancestry of “male”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchmāla—
2Proto-Germanicmēlōyoung cow
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂- →