Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Sale” come from?

Sale derives from Old English sealh, from Proto-Germanic salhaz and salhô, from Proto-Indo-European saləḱ- and sh₂lk-, of uncertain ultimate meaning.

Ancestry of “Sale”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishsale—
2Old Englishsælroom, great hall, house, castle; happiness,...
3Proto-West Germanicsālihappiness, prosperity; proper, appropriate time
4Proto-Germanicsalizhouse; dwelling; hall; room
5Proto-Indo-Europeansol-whole
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sol- →