mother

{{11}}mother (n.¹) O.E. modor "female parent," from P.Gmc. *mothær (Cf. O.S. modar, O.Fris. moder, O.N. moðir, Dan. moder, Du. moeder, O.H.G. muoter, Ger. Mutter), from PIE *mater- "mother" (Cf. L. mater, O.Ir. mathir, Lith. mote, Skt. matar-, Gk. meter, O.C.S. mati), "ased ultimately on the baby-talk form *mДЃ- (2); with the kinship term suffix *-ter-" [Watkins]. Spelling with -th- dates from early 16c., though that pronunciation is probably older.

Mother nature first attested c.1600; mother earth is from 1580s. Mother tongue "one's native language" first attested late 14c. Mother of all ________ 1991, is Gulf War slang, from Saddam Hussein's use in reference to the coming battle; it is an Arabic idiom (as well as an English one), Cf. Ayesha, second wife of Muhammad, known as Mother of Believers. Mother Carey's chickens is late 18c. sailors' nickname for storm petrels, or for snowflakes. Mother lode attested by c.1882, from mining [1849].

{{12}}[b]mother (n.²) "a thick substance concreting in liquors; the lees or scum concreted" [Johnson], probably from M.Du. modder "filth, dregs," from PIE *meu- (see MUD (Cf. mud)).

{{12}}mother (v.) 1540s, "to be the mother of," from MOTHER (Cf. mother) (n.¹). Meaning "to take care of" uis from 1863. Related: Mothered; mothering.