Where does “akézhoozh” come from?

akézhoozh (Navajo) comes from Navajo álázhoozh, from Navajo -zhoozh, from Proto-Athabaskan zhu̓zh, from Pre-Proto-Athabaskan shuʼsh.

akézhoozh (Navajo): toe, metatarsals and phalanges of the foot

Definitions

  1. toe, metatarsals and phalanges of the foot

Ancestry of “akézhoozh”, step by step

akézhoozh traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Navajo álázhoozh

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Navajoálázhoozhfinger; phalanges of the hand; metacarpals of the...
2Navajo-zhoozhto move by sliding (a loose mass of rocks, coins, grains, or other small objects)
3Proto-Athabaskanzhu̓zhto move or lie in a bunch or pile
4Pre-Proto-Athabaskanshuʼsh—

via Navajo ké

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Navajokéfoot, feet; shoe
2Proto-Athabaskan*-qeʔfoot
Every word from Pre-Proto-Athabaskan shuʼsh →Every word from Navajo -zhoozh →Every word from Navajo álázhoozh →