Where does “gavelock” come from?

gavelock (English) comes from Middle English gavelock, from Old English gafeluc, from Old English gafol, from Old Irish gabul, from Proto-Celtic gablā, from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- — to grab, take.

gavelock (English): A spear or dart; An iron crow or lever

Definitions

  1. A spear or dart; An iron crow or lever

Ancestry of “gavelock”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgavelock—
2Old Englishgafelucspear, javelin
3Old Englishgafolgift, offering; tribute, tax, duty; due, debt;...
4Old Irishgabulfork; branch; gallows, gibbet
5Proto-Celticgablāfork
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰeh₁bʰ-to grab, take
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰeh₁bʰ- →Every word from Proto-Celtic gablā →Every word from Old Irish gabul →