Where does “kerl” come from?

kerl (English) comes from German kerl, from Middle Low German kerl, from Proto-Germanic karilaz, from Proto-Germanic karaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- — to grow old, to mature.

kerl (English): Alternative form of carl

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of carl

Ancestry of “kerl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germankerlfellow, guy, chap, bloke
2Middle Low Germankerl—
3Proto-Germanickarilazfree man, franklin; little man, young man
4Proto-Germanickaraz—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵerh₂-to grow old, to mature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵerh₂- →Every word from Proto-Germanic karaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic karilaz →