Where does “coal” come from?

coal (English) comes from Middle English col, from Old English cōl, from Proto-West Germanic kōl(ī), from Proto-Germanic kōluz, from Proto-Germanic kalaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

coal (English): A black rock formed from prehistoric plant...

Definitions

  1. A black rock formed from prehistoric plant...

Ancestry of “coal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcolcole; coal
2Old Englishcōlcool, cold, tranquil, calm
3Proto-West Germanickōl(ī)cool
4Proto-Germanickōluzcool
5Proto-Germanickalanąto be cold, to freeze
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “coal”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Germanic kalaną →Every word from Proto-Germanic kōluz →