Where does “uilenbal” come from?

uilenbal (Dutch) comes from Dutch bal, from Middle Dutch bal, from Old Dutch bal, from Frankish ball, from Northern Sami bállu, from Northern Sami ballát, from Proto-Samic pëlājëtēk, from Proto-Samic pëlëtēk — to fear.

uilenbal (Dutch): pellet vomited by an owl

Definitions

  1. pellet vomited by an owl

Ancestry of “uilenbal”, step by step

uilenbal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Dutch bal

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchbala ball or any object with such a shape; testicle,...
2Middle Dutchbalball (round object), sphere
3Old Dutchbal
4Frankishball
5Northern Samibállutesticle, ball
6Northern Samiballátto become scared
7Proto-Samicpëlājëtēkto become scared
8Proto-Samicpëlëtēkto fear
9Proto-Uralicpele-to fear

via Dutch uil

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchuilowl, bird of the order Strigiformes; noctuoid,...
2Middle Dutchule
3Old Dutchūwila
4Proto-West Germanic*uwwulāowl
Every word from Proto-Uralic pele-