"half, moderate," Italian mezzo, literally "middle," from Latin medius (from PIE root *medhyo- "middle"). Used in combinations such as mezzo-soprano (music, 1753); mezzo-rilievo (scuplture, 1590s); mezzotint (engraving, 1738).
tint n.
"color," 1717, alteration of tinct (c. 1600), from Latin tinctus "a dyeing," from tingere "to dye" (see tincture); influenced by Italian tinta "tint, hue," from Latin tinctus.
*medhyo-
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "middle." Perhaps related to PIE root *me- (2) "to measure."
It forms all or part of: amid; intermediate; mean (adj.2) "occupying a middle or intermediate place;" medal; medial; median; mediate; medieval; mediocre; Mediterranean; medium; meridian; mesic; mesial; meso-; meson; Mesopotamia; Mesozoic; mezzanine; mezzo; mezzotint; mid (prep., adj.); middle; Midgard; midriff; midst; midwife; milieu; minge; mizzen; moiety; mullion.
It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit madhyah, Avestan madiya- "middle," Greek mesos, Latin medius "in the middle, between; from the middle," Gothic midjis, Old English midd "middle," Old Church Slavonic medzu "between," Armenian mej "middle."