Where does “gala” come from?

gala (Catalan) comes from Catalan galant, from French galant, from Old French galer, from Old French galle, from Latin galla, from Gaulish gallā, from Proto-Germanic gallǭ, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- — to flourish; green, yellow.

gala (Catalan): pomp, display

Definitions

  1. pomp, display

Ancestry of “gala”, step by step

gala traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Catalan galant

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Catalangalantgallant, charming, flirtatious
2Frenchgalantpresent participle of galer; gallant, courteous,...
3Old Frenchgalerto rub; to scratch; to have fun; to enjoy oneself
4Old Frenchgalle—
5Latingallathe oak apple, gall-nut; a harsh, sour kind of...
6Gaulishgallāvessel
7Proto-Germanicgallǭgall, bile
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰelh₃-to flourish; green, yellow

via Old French gale

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchgalepomp; show; festivity; mirth; rejoicing

Words derived from “gala”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- →Every word from Proto-Germanic gallǭ →Every word from Gaulish gallā →