Where does “Gauls” come from?
Gauls (English) comes from English Gaul, from French Gaule, from Middle French Gaule, from Old French Gaule, from Frankish Walhaland, from Frankish Walha, from Proto-Germanic walhaz, from Latin Volcae — wet, damp.
Gauls (English): plural of Gaul
Ancestry of “Gauls”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Gaul | A person from Gaul |
| 2 | French | Gaule | Gaul |
| 3 | Middle French | Gaule | Gaul |
| 4 | Old French | Gaule | — |
| 5 | Frankish | Walhaland | Gaul, Land of the Romans, foreigners |
| 6 | Frankish | Walha | foreigners, Romans, Celts |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | walhaz | foreigner, non-Germanic person |
| 8 | Latin | Volcae | a Gallic tribal confederation; name of a Celtic... |
| 9 | Proto-Celtic | wolkos | hawk |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | welg- | wet, damp |