Where does “wälsch” come from?
wälsch (Alemannic German) comes from Middle High German welisc, from Old High German walask, from Proto-Germanic walhiskaz, from Proto-Germanic walhaz, from Latin Volcae, from Proto-Celtic wolkos, from Proto-Indo-European welg- — wet, damp.
wälsch (Alemannic German): pertaining to the Romance-speaking areas and population of Switzerland
Definitions
- pertaining to the Romance-speaking areas and population of Switzerland
Ancestry of “wälsch”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | welisc | Romance, non-Germanic, foreign |
| 2 | Old High German | walask | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | walhiskaz | foreign, non-Germanic |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | walhaz | foreigner, non-Germanic person |
| 5 | Latin | Volcae | a Gallic tribal confederation; name of a Celtic... |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | wolkos | hawk |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | welg- | wet, damp |