Where does “elsen” come from?
elsen (English) comes from Middle English elsen, from Middle Dutch elsene, from Old Dutch alisa, from Frankish aliʀu, from Proto-Germanic alizō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élis-, from Proto-Indo-European el- — to bend; red, brown; hungry.
elsen (English): An awl, a pointed tool
Ancestry of “elsen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | elsen | an awl or some other pointed instrument or tool |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | elsene | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | alisa | — |
| 4 | Frankish | aliʀu | alder |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | alizō | alder |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂élis- | alder |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | el- | to bend; red, brown; hungry |