Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fold” come from?

Fold comes from Old English folde, from Old English fealdan, from Proto-Germanic falþaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pel-, a root meaning to fold or bend.

fold (English): To bend over so that it comes in contact with...

Definitions

  1. To bend over so that it comes in contact with...

Ancestry of “fold”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfold—
2Old Englishfald—
3Proto-Germanicfaludazan enclosed space, enclosure

Words derived from “fold”

  • folder
  • subfolder
  • sheepfold
  • skinfold
  • billfold
  • centerfold
  • foldout
  • foldable
  • refold
  • manyfold
  • foldback
  • gatefold
  • foldaway
  • centrefold
  • nailfold
  • foldase
  • linenfold
  • misfold
  • foldover
  • overfold
  • microfold
  • fanfold
  • penfold
  • foldeth
Every word from Proto-Germanic faludaz →