Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gale” come from?

Gale comes from Middle English gale, from Old English gafol, from Proto-Germanic galaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to pay or give.

gale (English): To sing; charm; enchant; To cry; groan; croak; To...

Definitions

  1. To sing; charm; enchant; To cry; groan; croak; To...

Ancestry of “gale”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgalea wind, breeze
2Old Norsegalinnenchanted; mad, frantic; past participle of gala
3Old Norsegalato sing; to crow; to chant
4Proto-Germanicgalanąto shout, yell; to charm, sing
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “gale”

  • galelike
  • galeproof
  • dgêle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →