Where does “male” come from?
male (Old French) comes from Medieval Latin mala, from Proto-Italic smakslā, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.
male (Old French): pack, bag
Definitions
- pack, bag
Ancestry of “male”, step by step
male traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Medieval Latin mala
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | mala | cheekbone, jaw; cheek; bundle, bag |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | smakslā | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | smēk- | beard; chin |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | smē- | to rub; smear |
via Frankish malha
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankish | malha | — |