Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/mūk-

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Alternative forms

• *muk-, *mug-

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *(s)mūg-, *(s)mugn-, *(s)mewgʰ- (“swindler, thief”). Cognate with Latin muger (“cheater”), Old Irish formúighte, formúchthae (“hidden”).

Verb

mūk-, muk-, mug-

1. to lie in ambush; skulk; hide; waylay
2. to steal; rob

Derived terms

• *mūkārijaz, *mukārijaz
• *mūkil-, *mugil-

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *mūkōn, *mukkjan
  • Old English: *myċċan
    • Middle English: müchen, michen; müchere
      • Scots: mich, myche
      • English: miche, mitch; micher
  • >? Dutch: mokkelen (“to flatter”)
  • Old High German: mūhhōn
    • Middle High German: mūchen
      • Alemannic German: mauchen
    • ⇒ Old High German: *mūhhilōn (attested in mūhhilāri, mūhhilswert)
      • >? Middle High German: *miucheln, *mūcheln
        • German: meucheln, maucheln (could also be a backformation from derivatives)
          • >? German: mogeln (relation uncertain)
            • → Low German: mogeln
            • → Saterland Frisian: mogelje
  • → Old French: mucer; mucier, muchier
    • Middle French: musser
      • French: musser
      • Norman: muchi (Jèrriais), muchier (Guernésiais)
    • → Middle English: mouchen, moochen
      • English: mooch
    • → Walloon: muchi
• Old Norse: *muggr
  • Norwegian: mugg (dialectal)