Where does “pica-pau” come from?

pica-pau (Portuguese) comes from Portuguese pau, from Old Portuguese pao, from Latin palus, from Proto-Italic pākslos, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ-slos, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- — to attach.

pica-pau (Portuguese): woodpecker

Definitions

  1. woodpecker

Ancestry of “pica-pau”, step by step

pica-pau traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Portuguese pau

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesepaustick; wood; penis, dick, cock, prick
2Old Portuguesepaostick, stake
3Latinpalusswamp, marsh, morass, bog, fen, pool; stake,...
4Proto-Italicpākslos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵ-slos—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂ǵ-to attach

via Portuguese Picar

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesePicarto sting pierce with a small, sharp point
2Vulgar Latinpiccareto puncture; to sting, strike; to pierce
3Frankishpikkōnto peck, strike
4Proto-Germanicpikōną—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbew-"low-pitch humming noise"
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ-slos →Every word from Proto-Italic pākslos →