Where does “addle” come from?
addle (English) comes from Middle English addlen, from Old Norse ǫðlask, from Proto-Germanic *ōþalōną — to inherit, to acquire by inheriting.
addle (English): To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's...
Definitions
- To earn, earn by labor; earn money or one's...
Ancestry of “addle”, step by step
addle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English addlen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | addlen | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | ǫðlask | To gain possession of property |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *ōþalōną | to inherit, to acquire by inheriting |
via Proto-Balto-Slavic *edlis
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | *edlis | — |