Where does “tomte” come from?
tomte (Swedish) comes from Swedish tomt, from Old Norse toft, from Proto-Germanic tumþiz, from Proto-Indo-European dem- — to build; to arrange, to put together.
tomte (Swedish): A small human-like creature in Nordic folklore...
Definitions
- A small human-like creature in Nordic folklore...
Ancestry of “tomte”, step by step
tomte traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Swedish tomt
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | tomt | a ground lot, a parcel (of land), that has had, currently has or in the future will have a house built on it. It especially refers either to the land that directly surrounds the house (not uncommonly fenced), even if the total estate might be much bigger, or a legally delineated lot in town-like env |
| 2 | Old Norse | toft | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | tumþiz | seemliness, agreement; association, guild,... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |