Where does “elger” come from?

elger (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.

elger (Dutch): spear for fishing eel

Definitions

  1. spear for fishing eel

Ancestry of “elger”, step by step

elger traces back through two 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 geer

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchgeerspear; gyron
2Middle Dutchgêerspear
3Old Dutchgērspear, pike, javelin
4Proto-West Germanicgaiʀspear
5Proto-Germanicgaizazspear, pike, javelin
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰoysósthrowing spear
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰey-winter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European at-al →Every word from Proto-Germanic aþalą →