Where does “смертник” come from?

смертник (Russian) comes from Russian смерть, from Old East Slavic съмьрть, from Proto-Slavic sъmьrtь, from Proto-Balto-Slavic su-mirtis, from Proto-Balto-Slavic mirtis, from Proto-Indo-European mértis, from Proto-Indo-European mer- — to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland.

смертник (Russian): person sentenced to death

Definitions

  1. person sentenced to death

Ancestry of “смертник”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianсмертьdeath; dying for
2Old East Slavicсъмьртьdeath
3Proto-Slavicsъmьrtьdeath
4Proto-Balto-Slavicsu-mirtisnatural death
5Proto-Balto-Slavicmirtisdeath
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmértisdeath
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmer-to die; to disappear; sea, lake, wetland
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mer- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European mértis →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic mirtis →