Where does “male” come from?

male (Middle English) comes from Anglo-Norman male, from Old French male, from Medieval Latin mala, from Proto-Italic smakslā, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

male (Middle English): rent, tribute

Definitions

  1. rent, tribute

Ancestry of “male”, step by step

male traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Anglo-Norman male

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Anglo-Normanmalepack, bag
2Old Frenchmalepack, bag
3Medieval Latinmalacheekbone, jaw; cheek; bundle, bag
4Proto-Italicsmakslā—
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear

via Latin mālum

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmālumevil, adversity, hardship, misfortune, calamity, disaster, mischief
2Ancient Greekμῆλονapple; any fruit from a tree; a woman's breast
3Proto-Indo-European(s)meh₁l-small animal”; small animal

Words derived from “male”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēk- →Every word from Proto-Italic smakslā →