Where does “Oddfellow” come from?
Oddfellow (English) comes from English fellow, from Middle English felawe, from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, from Old Norse félag, from Old Norse fé, from Proto-Germanic fehu, from Proto-Indo-European péḱu — to pluck; livestock; wealth.
Oddfellow (English): A member of a secret order or fraternity...
Definitions
- A member of a secret order or fraternity...
Ancestry of “Oddfellow”, step by step
Oddfellow traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English fellow
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fellow | A colleague or partner; A companion; a comrade; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | felawe | A partner, friend, or colleague; one linked with... |
| 3 | Old English | fēolaga | companion, partner, colleague |
| 4 | Old Norse | félagi | one with whom one has joined one's property;... |
| 5 | Old Norse | félag | fellowship, partnership |
| 6 | Old Norse | fé | cattle; livestock; property, money |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | fehu | livestock, cattle; property; name of the F-rune |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | péḱu | livestock |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | peḱ- | to pluck; livestock; wealth |
via English odd
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | odd | Differing from what is usual, ordinary or... |
| 2 | Middle English | odde | inflection of od: ## weak singular ## strong/weak... |
| 3 | Old Norse | oddi | odd, third or additional number; triangle |
| 4 | Old Norse | -i | th |
| 5 | Latin | -ē | ly; used to form adverbs from adjectives |
| 6 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 7 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 8 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |