Where does “малолитражка” come from?

малолитражка (Russian) comes from Russian ма́лый, from Old East Slavic малъ, from Proto-Slavic malъ, from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal- — small; little.

малолитражка (Russian): subcompact an automobile with a small-displacement engine

Definitions

  1. subcompact an automobile with a small-displacement engine

Ancestry of “малолитражка”, step by step

малолитражка traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian ма́лый

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianма́лыйlittle, not much; small
2Old East Slavicмалъsmall
3Proto-Slavicmalъsmall; little
4Proto-Indo-European(s)mal-small; little

via Russian литра́ж

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianлитра́жlitreage, capacity, volume in litres/liters
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal-Every word from Proto-Slavic malъEvery word from Old East Slavic малъ