Where does “войнушка” come from?

войнушка (Russian) comes from Russian война́, from Old East Slavic воина, from Proto-Slavic vojьna, from Proto-Slavic vojьnъ, from Proto-Slavic vojь, from Proto-Indo-European woyh₁-o-s, from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- — to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute.

войнушка (Russian): little war; war game (also sarcastically of politicians' actions)

Definitions

  1. little war; war game (also sarcastically of politicians' actions)

Ancestry of “войнушка”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianвойна́war
2Old East Slavicвоинаwar
3Proto-Slavicvojьnawar
4Proto-Slavicvojьnъ—
5Proto-Slavicvojьsoldier; curving, turn
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwoyh₁-o-s—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European woyh₁-o-s →Every word from Proto-Slavic vojь →