Where does “mul-” come from?
mul- (Proto-Balto-Slavic) comes from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
Ancestry of “mul-”, step by step
mul- traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-Indo-European melh₂-
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via Proto-Indo-European ml̥h₂-
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Indo-European | ml̥h₂- | to push, to crush, to grate, to grind |