Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Will” come from?

Will (English) comes from English william, from Middle English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

Will (English): A weak-side linebacker

Definitions

  1. A weak-side linebacker

Ancestry of “Will”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwilliam—
2Middle EnglishWilliam—
3Anglo-NormanWillame—
4Old High GermanWillahelmWilliam
5Old High Germanhelmhelmet
6Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
7Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
8Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “Will”

  • Wilson
  • Wilkins
  • Wilkinson
  • Wilkes
  • Wilcox
  • Wilkie
  • Willett
  • Wilks
  • Willet
  • Wilkerson
  • Wilk
  • Wilke
  • Wilsonian
  • Wilkin
  • Wilcock
  • Willetts
  • Willes
  • Willets
  • Willison
  • Wilsonianism
  • Willott
  • wilkinsonite
  • Wilson
  • ウィルソン
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →