Where does “душонка” come from?

душонка (Russian) comes from Russian душа́, from Old East Slavic доуша, from Proto-Slavic duša, from Proto-Slavic *duxja.

Ancestry of “душонка”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianдуша́breath, spirit
2Old East Slavicдоушаsoul
3Proto-Slavicdušasoul; spirit
4Proto-Slavic*duxja—
Every word from Proto-Slavic *duxja →Every word from Proto-Slavic duša →Every word from Old East Slavic доуша →