Where does “curl” come from?
Curl comes from Middle English crulle, from Middle Dutch crul, from Proto-Germanic kruzlǭ, from Proto-Germanic grus-, from Proto-Indo-European gurus-.
curl (English): A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet; A...
Definitions
- A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet; A...
Ancestry of “curl”, step by step
curl traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English crulle
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | crulle | curled, curly |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | crul | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | kruzlǭ | bent or crooked object, curl; that which is... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | grus- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gurus- | twist, curl |
via German kerl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | kerl | fellow, guy, chap, bloke |
| 2 | Middle Low German | kerl | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | karilaz | free man, franklin; little man, young man |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | karaz | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵerh₂- | to grow old, to mature |
Words derived from “curl”