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-

to lie in ambush; skulk; hide; waylay
to steal; rob

Derived terms

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)