Where does “ratel” come from?
ratel (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch ratel, from Middle Dutch ratele, from Middle Dutch râte, from Old Dutch rāta, from Proto-West Germanic hrātu, from Proto-Germanic hrētō, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥t- — to twist, weave.
ratel (Afrikaans): honey badger; badger
Definitions
- honey badger; badger
Ancestry of “ratel”, step by step
ratel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch ratel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | ratel | ratchet, rattle; ratchet; socket wrench |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | ratele | — |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | râte | — |
| 4 | Old Dutch | rāta | honeycomb |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | hrātu | honeycomb |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hrētō | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥t- | to twist, weave |
via Middle Dutch raat
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Dutch | raat | honeycomb |