Where does “dwaal” come from?

dwaal (English) comes from Afrikaans dwaal, from Dutch dwalen, from Middle Dutch dwalen, from Old Dutch dwalon, from Proto-Germanic dwalōną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwelH- — to whirl, swirl, blur, obfuscate; to make turbid.

dwaal (English): A dreamy, dazed, absent-minded, or befuddled...

Definitions

  1. A dreamy, dazed, absent-minded, or befuddled...

Ancestry of “dwaal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaansdwaalto stray, to wander; dwaal, an absent-minded...
2Dutchdwalento stray, wander
3Middle Dutchdwalen—
4Old Dutchdwalonto stray, wander
5Proto-GermanicdwalōnąTo withhold; hesitate; delay
6Proto-Indo-EuropeandʰwelH-to whirl, swirl, blur, obfuscate; to make turbid
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwelH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic dwalōną →Every word from Old Dutch dwalon →
dwaal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer