Etymograph

English

melee

Melee comes from Old French mesler ‘to mix’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *meyḱ-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*meyḱ-‘to mix’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*miḱ-sḱé-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*mi(k)skō‘to mix’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmisceō‘mix’
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400mesler‘to mix’
  6. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400mesleefeminine past participle of mesler
  7. Frenchc. 1600–presentmêlée
  8. Englishearliest quotation 2012melee

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*meyḱ-‘to mix’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*miḱ-sḱé-reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*mi(k)skō‘to mix’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmisceō‘mix’
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400mesler‘to mix’
  6. Old French, derivedc. 842–1400mesleefeminine past participle of mesler
  7. Frenchc. 1600–presentmêlée
  8. Englishearliest quotation 2012melee

Earliest quotation: 2012, Phil McNulty, Tottenham 1-5 Chelsea: “The ball did not appear to cross the line,…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *meyḱ- ‘to mix’

medley, 9 more

through Proto-Italic *mi(k)skō ‘to mix’

admixture, 8 more

through Latin misceō ‘mix’

mixture, miscellaneous, miscellany, meddle, melange, 9 more

through Old French mesler ‘to mix’

mell

Today it means

noun A battle fought at close range, (especially) one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *meyḱ- / melee

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