Where does “pillow” come from?
Pillow comes from Middle English pilwe, from Old English pyle, from Proto-Germanic pulwı̨̄, from Latin pulvinus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pel-.
pillow (English): A soft cushion used to support the head in bed; A...
Definitions
- A soft cushion used to support the head in bed; A...
Ancestry of “pillow”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pilwe | A soft stuffed bag; a cushion or pillow; A pad; a... |
| 2 | Old English | pyle | pillow |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *pulwī | pillow, cushion, bolster |
| 4 | Latin | pulvīnus | a cushion, pillow, bolster to sit or lie upon |
| 5 | Latin | pulvis | dust, powder; an arena, place of contest |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |