Where does “aalspeer” come from?

aalspeer (Dutch) comes from Dutch aal, from Middle Dutch adel, from Old Dutch athal, from Proto-West Germanic aþal, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

aalspeer (Dutch): spear for fishing eel

Definitions

  1. spear for fishing eel

Ancestry of “aalspeer”, step by step

aalspeer traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch aal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchaaleel; elver; padre
2Middle Dutchadel
3Old Dutchathal
4Proto-West Germanicaþalnobility; race
5Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
6Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam

via Dutch speer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchspeerspear; javelin
2Middle Dutchspērespear, lance
3Old Dutchsperu
4Proto-West Germanic*speru
5Proto-Germanicsperuspear
6Proto-Indo-EuropeansperH-to kick

via German aal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanaalsingular imperative of aalen; first-person...
2Middle High Germanāl
3Old High Germanālall
4Proto-West Germanicallall
5Proto-Germanicallazall
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el-