Where does “blackfella” come from?
blackfella (English) comes from English fella, from English fellow, from Middle English felawe, from Old English fēolaga, from Old Norse félagi, from Old Norse félag, from Old Norse fé, from Proto-Germanic fehu — to pluck; livestock; wealth.
blackfella (English): Alternative form of blackfellow
Definitions
- Alternative form of blackfellow
Ancestry of “blackfella”, step by step
blackfella traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English fella
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fella | Pronunciation spelling of fellow; 1997, Donald... |
| 2 | English | fellow | A colleague or partner; A companion; a comrade; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | felawe | A partner, friend, or colleague; one linked with... |
| 4 | Old English | fēolaga | companion, partner, colleague |
| 5 | Old Norse | félagi | one with whom one has joined one's property;... |
| 6 | Old Norse | félag | fellowship, partnership |
| 7 | Old Norse | fé | cattle; livestock; property, money |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | fehu | livestock, cattle; property; name of the F-rune |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | péḱu | livestock |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | peḱ- | to pluck; livestock; wealth |
via English Black
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Black | Alternative letter-case form of black |
| 2 | Old French | blanc | white |
| 3 | Late Latin | blancus | white |
| 4 | Frankish | blank | bright; gleaming, white, blinding; bright,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *blank | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | blankaz | bright, shining, white, gleaming, blinding |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bhleg- | to shine, white; to shine, burn, scorch |