Where does “gæld” come from?
gæld (Danish) comes from Old Danish giald, from Old Norse gjald, from Proto-Germanic geldą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeldʰ- — to repay, reward; to pay; to pay for, repay.
gæld (Danish): debt, debts
Ancestry of “gæld”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Danish | giald | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | gjald | payment, tribute |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | geldą | That which is paid out; reward, gift, money |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰeldʰ- | to repay, reward; to pay; to pay for, repay |