Where does “Shetland” come from?

Shetland comes from Scots Shetland, from Old Norse Hjaltland, from Old Norse hjalt combined with Proto-Germanic landą meaning "land," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lendʰ-.

Shetland (English): A particular breed of pony; A pony of this breed;...

Definitions

  1. A particular breed of pony; A pony of this breed;...

Ancestry of “Shetland”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1ScotsShetland—
2Middle Low GermanȜetland—
3Old NorseHjaltlandShetland
4Old Norsehjalthilt
5Proto-Germanicheltąhandle; hilt
6Proto-Indo-Europeankel-to hit; beat; to pierce, to stab; goblet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic heltą →Every word from Old Norse hjalt →