Where does “knøttspissmus” come from?

knøttspissmus (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk spissmus, from Norwegian Nynorsk mus, from Old Norse mús, from Proto-Germanic mūs, from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s — mouse.

knøttspissmus (Norwegian Nynorsk): a Eurasian least shrew, "Sorex minutissimus"

Definitions

  1. a Eurasian least shrew, "Sorex minutissimus"

Ancestry of “knøttspissmus”, step by step

knøttspissmus traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Norwegian Nynorsk spissmus

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskspissmusa shrew, a small animal of the genus "Soricidae"
2Norwegian Nynorskmusmouse; pussy; computer mouse
3Old Norsemús—
4Proto-Germanicmūsmouse
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmúh₂smouse

via Norwegian Nynorsk knøtt

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskknøttsomething tiny
2Proto-GermanicgnattazA bite or scratch; A biting insect; mosquito
3Proto-Indo-EuropeangʰneHdʰn-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeangʰen-to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European múh₂s →Every word from Proto-Germanic mūs →Every word from Old Norse mús →