Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “dweil” come from?

dweil (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch dwâle, from Old Dutch thwāla, from Frankish þwahilu, from Proto-Germanic þwahaną — to wash, bathe.

dweil (Dutch): floorcloth, mop; worthless person; weakling

Definitions

  1. floorcloth, mop; worthless person; weakling

Ancestry of “dweil”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchdwâle—
2Old Dutchthwāla—
3Frankishþwahilutowel, washcloth; cloth
4Proto-Germanicþwahanąto wash, bathe

Words derived from “dweil”

  • dweilen
  • afdweilen
  • dweilorkest
Every word from Proto-Germanic þwahaną →