Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “motor” come from?

motor (Dutch) comes from Dutch engel, from Middle Dutch engel, from Old Dutch engil, from Latin Angelus, from Ancient Greek ἄγγελος, from Old Norse engill, from Old Saxon engil, from Proto-West Germanic angil — angel; messenger.

motor (Dutch): engine; motorbike

Definitions

  1. engine; motorbike

Ancestry of “motor”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchengelangel
2Middle Dutchengelangel, servant of God; fallen angel
3Old Dutchengil—
4LatinAngelus—
5Ancient Greekἄγγελοςa messenger; one that announces; angel, heavenly...
6Old Norseengillangel
7Old Saxonengilangel
8Proto-West Germanicangilangel
9Latinangelusangel; messenger

Words derived from “motor”

  • motorreis
  • motoriek
  • diesel
  • dieselolie
  • motorboot
  • motorolie
  • motorfiets
  • motorrijwiel
  • motorrijtuig
  • dieselmotor
  • motorcrosser
  • viermotorig
  • motorcoureur
  • motorkap
  • dieseltrein
  • diesellocomotief
  • verbrandingsmotor
  • motorrijder
  • motormuis
  • sepeda motor
  • motor
Every word from Latin angelus →