Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gleeman” come from?

gleeman (English) comes from Middle English gleman, from Old English glēomann, from Old English glēo, from Old English glīw, from Proto-Germanic glīwą, from Proto-Indo-European gʰlew-, from Proto-Indo-European gʰel- — to call; to chant; to shout.

gleeman (English): A professional singer, bard, or other entertainer

Definitions

  1. A professional singer, bard, or other entertainer

Ancestry of “gleeman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgleman—
2Old Englishglēomann—
3Old Englishglēoglee, joy
4Old Englishglīwglee, pleasure, mirth, play, sport; music;...
5Proto-Germanicglīwąjoy, gladness, merriment, mirth
6Proto-Indo-Europeangʰlew-to be glad; jest; joke; to joke, make fun, enjoy;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʰel-to call; to chant; to shout

Words derived from “gleeman”

  • gleewoman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʰel- →