Where does “totempaal” come from?
totempaal (Dutch) comes from Dutch paal, from Middle Dutch pâel, from Old Dutch pāl, from Latin pālus, from Proto-Italic pākslos, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ-slos, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂ǵ- — to attach.
totempaal (Dutch): totem pole
Ancestry of “totempaal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | paal | post, stake, pole, pile; goalpost; pale,... |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | pâel | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | pāl | — |
| 4 | Latin | pālus | — |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | pākslos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂ǵ-slos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂ǵ- | to attach |