Where does “walvis” come from?

walvis (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch Walvis, from Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, from Old Dutch wal, from Proto-Germanic Wahalaz, from Latin vacalus — now the Waal.

walvis (Afrikaans): whale

Definitions

  1. whale

Ancestry of “walvis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchWalvisCetus
2Middle Dutchwalvischwhale
3Old Dutchwalvisk—
4Old Dutchwalwhale
5Proto-GermanicWahalazthe river Waal
6Latinvacalusnow the Waal
Every word from Latin vacalus →Every word from Proto-Germanic Wahalaz →Every word from Old Dutch wal →