Where does “malle” come from?

malle (Middle French) comes 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.

Ancestry of “malle”, step by step

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

Words derived from “malle

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