Where does “troldkarl” come from?

troldkarl (Danish) comes from Danish karl, from Old Norse Karl, from Proto-Norse ᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

troldkarl (Danish): a male wizard common during the witch hunts in the middle ages

Definitions

  1. a male wizard common during the witch hunts in the middle ages

Ancestry of “troldkarl”, step by step

troldkarl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Danish karl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishkarlfarmhand; groom, ostler; bloke, chap, guy
2Old NorseKarlman
3Proto-Norseᚲᚨᚱᛁᛚᚨᛉ—
4Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
5Proto-Germanickaraz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature

via Danish trold

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Danishtroldtroll; ogre; spitfire
2Old Norsetrǫllwitch, mage, conjurer
3Proto-Germanictruzląa supernatural being; demon; fiend; giant;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeandreh₂-run; to run, escape
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →