Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “kerel” come from?

kerel (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch kerel, from Old Dutch karl, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

kerel (Dutch): lad, fellow, bloke; A long overgarment

Definitions

  1. lad, fellow, bloke; A long overgarment

Ancestry of “kerel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchkerel—
2Old Dutchkarl—
3Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
4Proto-Germanickaraz—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →