Where does “bål” come from?
bål (Danish) comes from French bal, from Late Latin ballare, from Ancient Greek βαλλίζω, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.
bål (Danish): fire, bonfire, pyre
Ancestry of “bål”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | bal | dance party, ball |
| 2 | Late Latin | ballare | to play, dance; to dance; present active... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | βαλλίζω | to dance, jump about |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷelH- | to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing |