Where does “meli” come from?

meli (Samoan) comes from English mail, from Middle English mal, from Old English māl, from Old Norse mál, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

meli (Samoan): mail; honey

Definitions

  1. mail; honey

Ancestry of “meli”, step by step

meli traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English mail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmailA bag or wallet; A bag containing letters to be...
2Middle Englishmal
3Old Englishmālspeech, contract, agreement; suit, case, action,...
4Old Norsemállanguage; speech; matter, affair
5Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

via Spanish miel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishmielhoney
2Old Spanishmielhoney
3Vulgar Latin*melem
4Latinmelhoney; sweetness, pleasantness; darling, sweet,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmélithoney
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-Every word from Proto-Indo-European mel-Every word from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-
meli — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer