Where does “maçã” come from?

maçã (Portuguese) comes from Old Portuguese maçãa, from Vulgar Latin māla, from Vulgar Latin Mattiana, from Latin mala, from Proto-Italic smakslā, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

maçã (Portuguese): apple

Definitions

  1. apple

Ancestry of “maçã”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Portuguesemaçãaapple
2Vulgar Latinmāla—
3Vulgar LatinMattianaa type of apple
4Latinmalacheekbone, jaw; cheek; bundle, bag
5Proto-Italicsmakslā—
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
7Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →