Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “flagpole” come from?

Flagpole is a compound of English flag and English pole, with pole deriving from Latin polus and Latin palus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- and peh₂ǵ-.

flagpole (English): A tall pole up which one or more flags may be...

Definitions

  1. A tall pole up which one or more flags may be...

Ancestry of “flagpole”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishflagA piece of cloth, often decorated with an emblem,...
2EnglishflackTo flutter; palpitate; To hang loosely; flag; To...
3Middle Englishflackento palpitate, flutter; to move to and fro,...
4Germanflackernto flicker
5Middle High Germanvlackern—
6Proto-Germanicflakurazshaking, wavering
7Proto-Indo-Europeanplāg-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpelə-to wander; to fill
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelə- →