Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “holmgang” come from?

holmgang (English) comes from Icelandic hólmganga, from Old Norse hólmganga, from Icelandic hólmur, from Old Norse hólmr, from Proto-Germanic hulmaz, from Proto-Indo-European kl̥Hmos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelH- — to freeze.

holmgang (English): In Norse and Icelandic culture, a duel to the...

Definitions

  1. In Norse and Icelandic culture, a duel to the...

Ancestry of “holmgang”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandichólmgangaholmgang, duel, single combat
2Old Norsehólmganga—
3Icelandichólmurislet; a designated place for a duel
4Old Norsehólmrisland
5Proto-Germanichulmazsmall island, hill, mound
6Proto-Indo-Europeankl̥Hmos—
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱelH-to freeze
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelH- →