Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “overhaul” come from?

Overhaul comes from Middle English over- combined with Middle Dutch halen, which derives from Old Dutch halon, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "to pull or draw."

overhaul (English): A major repair, remake, renovation, or revision;...

Definitions

  1. A major repair, remake, renovation, or revision;...

Ancestry of “overhaul”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhaulTo transport by drawing or pulling, as with...
2Middle Englishhālen—
3Old Frenchhalerto pull, haul; to haul, pull
4Dutchhalento fetch, to get; to reach , to catch; to make it
5Middle Dutchhalento drag, fetch, haul; to draw, fetch, haul
6Old Dutchhalōn—
7Proto-West Germanichalōnto fetch, to get, to haul
8Proto-Germanichalōnąto call, appoint, summon; to fetch, get
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₁-to warm up, to be hot; to warm up, be hot

Words derived from “overhaul”

  • overhauler
  • overhaulable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₁- →