Where does “walvis” come from?

walvis (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch walvisch, from Old Dutch walvisk, from Old Dutch wal, from Proto-Germanic Wahalaz, from Latin vacalus — now the Waal.

walvis (Dutch): whale, mammal of the order Cetacea

Definitions

  1. whale, mammal of the order Cetacea

Ancestry of “walvis”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchwalvischwhale
2Old Dutchwalvisk—
3Old Dutchwalwhale
4Proto-GermanicWahalazthe river Waal
5Latinvacalusnow the Waal
Every word from Latin vacalus →Every word from Proto-Germanic Wahalaz →Every word from Old Dutch wal →
walvis — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer