Where does “outfall” come from?

Outfall comes from English fall, which derives from Proto-Germanic fallaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pōl-, meaning to fall or move downward.

outfall (English): To burst forth, as upon an enemy; make a sally; A...

Definitions

  1. To burst forth, as upon an enemy; make a sally; A...

Ancestry of “outfall”, step by step

outfall traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English out

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishoutAway from the inside, centre or other point of...
2Middle Englishouteout
3Old Englishūtout
4Proto-West Germanic*ūtout, outward
5Proto-Germanicūtout, outward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanúdout, outward

via English fall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishfall"To be moved downwards."; "To move downwards.";...
2Middle Englishfall
3Old EnglishfeallAlternative form of fiell
4Proto-Germanicfallą
5Proto-Indo-European(s)pōl-to fall

via Middle English outfallen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoutfallen

Words derived from “outfall

Every word from Proto-Indo-European úd
outfall — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer