Where does “mecha” come from?

mecha (Portuguese) comes from French mèche, from Old French mesche, from Vulgar Latin micca, from Latin mīca, from Proto-Italic smīkā, from Proto-Indo-European smēyg-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

mecha (Portuguese): lock; wick

Definitions

  1. lock; wick

Ancestry of “mecha”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchmèchewick of candle
2Old Frenchmesche—
3Vulgar Latinmicca—
4Latinmīcaa grain, crumb
5Proto-Italicsmīkā—
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmēyg-small, delicate, thin; twig, pole; crumb; small,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēyg- →Every word from Proto-Italic smīkā →