Where does “bel-” come from?
bel- (English) comes from English Belgian, from English Belgium, from Latin Belgium, from Latin Belgica, from Latin belgicus, from Latin Belgae, from Proto-Celtic bolg-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰelgʰ- — to bulge, swell.
bel- (English): grand-
Definitions
- grand-
Ancestry of “bel-”, step by step
bel- traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Belgian
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Belgian | A person from Belgium or of Belgian descent; Of,... |
| 2 | English | Belgium | The Low Countries |
| 3 | Latin | Belgium | — |
| 4 | Latin | Belgica | — |
| 5 | Latin | belgicus | Belgic |
| 6 | Latin | Belgae | the Belgians; Belgians |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | bolg- | to swell |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰelgʰ- | to bulge, swell |
via Middle English bel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bel | Of fine quality: good, nice, appealing;... |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | bel | — |
| 3 | Old French | bel | Alternative form of biau; good, pretty |
| 4 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 5 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 6 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |