Where does “Shetland” come from?

Shetland (Dutch) comes from English shetland, from Scots Shetland, from Middle Low German Ȝetland, from Old Norse Hjaltland, from Old Norse hjalt, from Proto-Germanic heltą, from Proto-Indo-European kel- — to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet.

Ancestry of “Shetland”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshetlandLightweight, loosely twisted wool fabric
2ScotsShetland—
3Middle Low GermanȜetland—
4Old NorseHjaltlandShetland
5Old Norsehjalthilt
6Proto-Germanicheltąhandle; hilt
7Proto-Indo-Europeankel-to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet

Words derived from “Shetland”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European kel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic heltą →Every word from Old Norse hjalt →