Where does “ząb” come from?
ząb (Old Polish) comes from Proto-Slavic zǫbъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic źámbas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- — to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg.
Ancestry of “ząb”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Slavic | zǫbъ | tooth |
| 2 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | źámbas | tooth; sharp or jagged edge |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵómbʰos | tooth; row of teeth; peg |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵómbʰ- | to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg |