Where does “småpenger” come from?

småpenger (Norwegian Bokmål) comes from Norwegian Bokmål små, from Old Norse smár, from Proto-Germanic smēhaz, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

småpenger (Norwegian Bokmål): small change

Definitions

  1. small change

Ancestry of “småpenger”, step by step

småpenger traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Bokmål små

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålsmåsmall; plural of liten
2Old Norsesmársmall
3Proto-Germanicsmēhazsmall; little
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
5Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear

via Norwegian Bokmål penger

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Bokmålpengermoney; plural of penge
2Norwegian Bokmålpengesingular of money
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smēhaz →
småpenger — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer