Where does “Troll” come from?
Troll comes from Old Norse trǫll, from Proto-Germanic truzlą, from Proto-Indo-European derǝ-, a word of uncertain original meaning.
Troll (English): A supernatural being of varying size, now...
Definitions
- A supernatural being of varying size, now...
Ancestry of “Troll”, step by step
Troll traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Swedish troll
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | troll | a troll supernatural being |
| 2 | Old Norse | trǫll | witch, mage, conjurer |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | truzlą | a supernatural being; demon; fiend; giant;... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dreh₂- | run; to run, escape |
via Danish trold
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Danish | trold | troll; ogre; spitfire |