Where does “зубочистка” come from?

зубочистка (Russian) comes from Russian зуб, from Old East Slavic зѫбъ, from Proto-Slavic zǫbъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic źámbas, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- — to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg.

зубочистка (Russian): toothpick (stick for removing food residue from the area between the teeth)

Definitions

  1. toothpick (stick for removing food residue from the area between the teeth)

Ancestry of “зубочистка”, step by step

зубочистка traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian зуб

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianзубtooth; tooth, cog, dent
2Old East Slavicзѫбъtooth
3Proto-Slaviczǫbъtooth
4Proto-Balto-Slavicźámbastooth; sharp or jagged edge
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰostooth; row of teeth; peg
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵómbʰ-to pierce, gnaw through; tooth, horn, peg

via Russian чи́стить

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianчи́ститьto clean, to scour
2Proto-Slavicčistitito clean, purify
3Proto-Slavicčistъclean, pure
4Proto-Balto-Slavicskīstas—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanskidtossplit
6Proto-Indo-European(s)keyd-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰ- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵómbʰos →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic źámbas →