Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “balspel” come from?

balspel (Dutch) comes from Dutch bal, from Middle Dutch bal, from Old Dutch bal, from Frankish ball, from Northern Sami bállu, from Northern Sami ballát, from Proto-Samic pëlājëtēk, from Proto-Samic pëlëtēk — to fear.

balspel (Dutch): A ballgame, sport or game played with ball

Definitions

  1. A ballgame, sport or game played with ball

Ancestry of “balspel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchbala ball or any object with such a shape; testicle,...
2Middle Dutchbalball , sphere; something worthless
3Old Dutchbal—
4Frankishball—
5Northern Samibállutesticle, ball
6Northern Samiballátto become scared
7Proto-Samicpëlājëtēkto become scared
8Proto-Samicpëlëtēkto fear
9Proto-Uralicpele-to fear
Every word from Proto-Uralic pele- →