Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cryolite” come from?

cryolite (English) comes from English lite, from Middle English liten, from Old Norse hlíta, from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

cryolite (English): The mineral sodium aluminium fluoride

Definitions

  1. The mineral sodium aluminium fluoride

Ancestry of “cryolite”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishliteLight in composition, notably low in fat,...
2Middle Englishlitento dye
3Old Norsehlítato rely on, trust, abide by; to rely on, trust
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱley-to shelter, cover; to lean, slope, incline
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “cryolite”

  • cryolitic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →