Where does “muscle” come from?

muscle (Norman) comes from Latin mūsculus, from Ancient Greek μῦς, from Proto-Hellenic *mū́s, from Proto-Indo-Iranian múHs, from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s — mouse.

muscle (Norman): muscle

Definitions

  1. muscle

Ancestry of “muscle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmūsculusa small mouse
2Ancient Greekμῦςmouse; A type of mussel; A type of whale
3Proto-Hellenic*mū́s—
4Proto-Indo-IranianmúHsmouse
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmúh₂smouse
Every word from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian múHs →Every word from Proto-Hellenic *mū́s →