Where does “awl” come from?
Awl comes from Middle English alle, Old English ǣl and eall, Proto-Germanic ēlō, and Proto-Indo-European ēl-, al-, and h₂el-, with ultimate origins obscure.
awl (English): A pointed instrument for piercing small holes, as...
Definitions
- A pointed instrument for piercing small holes, as...
Ancestry of “awl”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | aul | — |
| 2 | Old English | æl | awl, hook, fork; Alternative form of æl; eel |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | āl | eel |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | ēlaz | eel |