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
Ancestry of “male”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Dutch | māla | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | mēlō | young cow |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |