Where does “små” come from?

små (Westrobothnian) comes from Old Norse smár, from Proto-Germanic smēhaz, from Proto-Indo-European smēk-, from Proto-Indo-European smē- — to rub; smear.

små (Westrobothnian): little, small; stingy, ungenerous

Definitions

  1. little, small; stingy, ungenerous

Ancestry of “små”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsesmársmall
2Proto-Germanicsmēhazsmall; little
3Proto-Indo-Europeansmēk-beard; chin
4Proto-Indo-Europeansmē-to rub; smear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European smē- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European smēk- →Every word from Proto-Germanic smēhaz →
små — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer