Where does “smilfink” come from?

smilfink (Swedish) comes from Swedish fink, from Middle Low German vinke, from Old Saxon *fink, from Proto-Germanic finkiz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)pingos — chaffinch.

smilfink (Swedish): someone obsequious (and often smiling) who tries to ingratiate themselves; an ass kisser

Definitions

  1. someone obsequious (and often smiling) who tries to ingratiate themselves; an ass kisser

Ancestry of “smilfink”, step by step

smilfink traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish fink

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishfinka finch
2Middle Low Germanvinke—
3Old Saxon*fink—
4Proto-Germanicfinkizfinch
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pingoschaffinch

via Swedish smil

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swedishsmila smile (archetypically a slight smile with closed lips that is put-on or cheeky)
2Swedishsmilato smile (archetypically slightly, with closed lips, and in a put-on or cheeky way)
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pingos →Every word from Proto-Germanic finkiz →Every word from Old Saxon *fink →
smilfink — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer