Where does “د” come from?

د (Egyptian Arabic) comes from Ottoman Turkish دال, from Old Anatolian Turkish طال, from Proto-Turkic tāl — willow tree (genus Salix, various species).

Ancestry of “د”, step by step

د traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Ottoman Turkish دال

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ottoman Turkishدالany ramification, such as a branch, bough, twig or spray
2Old Anatolian Turkishطالbranch, the woody part of a tree arising from the trunk and usually dividing
3Proto-Turkictālwillow tree (genus Salix, various species)

via Arabic د

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicد—
2Arabicاِسْتَخْدَمَto use, hire

via Arabic دَال

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicدَال—
Every word from Proto-Turkic tāl →Every word from Old Anatolian Turkish طال →Every word from Ottoman Turkish دال →