Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “guillemot” come from?

guillemot (English) comes from French guillemot, from French Guillaume, from Old French Guillaume, from Frankish Willahelm, from Proto-Germanic Wiljahelmaz, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

guillemot (English): Any seabird belonging to the genera "Uria" and...

Definitions

  1. Any seabird belonging to the genera "Uria" and...

Ancestry of “guillemot”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchguillemot—
2FrenchGuillaumeWilliam
3Old FrenchGuillaume—
4FrankishWillahelmWilliam
5Proto-GermanicWiljahelmaz—
6Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
7Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →