Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kelvin” come from?

Kelvin derives from Old Irish caille, from Old Irish caill meaning "hard" or "strife," from Proto-Celtic kallī, from Proto-Indo-European kelh₂-.

kelvin (English): Alternative letter-case form of kelvin

Definitions

  1. Alternative letter-case form of kelvin

Ancestry of “kelvin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scottish Gaelicabhainnriver, stream
2Old Irishaubriver
3Proto-Celticabūriver
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ep-water, body of water

Words derived from “kelvin”

  • K
  • 開爾文
  • K
  • Kelvin
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ep- →