Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “grail” come from?

Grail comes from Old French graal, from Latin gradalis, from Latin crater, from Ancient Greek κρατήρ, a mixing vessel, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European gʰroh₁weh₂.

grail (English): The Holy Grail; The object of an extended or...

Definitions

  1. The Holy Grail; The object of an extended or...

Ancestry of “grail”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgraal—
2Old FrenchgraalHoly Grail
3Latingradalisdish
4LatincraterA basin or bowl for water or for mixing; The...
5Ancient Greekκρατήρmixing bowl for wine; messenger who bears an ode;...
6Ancient Greekκράμαmixture
7Ancient GreekκεράννυμιI mix, mingle, blend; I temper, cool by mixing; I...
8Proto-Hellenickírnāmito mix
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱerh₂-head, top; horn

Words derived from “grail”

  • engrail
  • engrailment
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱerh₂- →