Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overall” come from?

Overall derives from Middle English overall, composed of over from Old English ofer (from Proto-Germanic uber, from Proto-Indo-European upér and upo) and all.

overall (English): All-encompassing, all around; Generally; with...

Definitions

  1. All-encompassing, all around; Generally; with...

Ancestry of “overall”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoverall—
2Old Englishofer eall—

Words derived from “overall”

  • overalled
  • overally
  • overol
  • オーバーオール
  • overall
Every word from Old English ofer eall →