Where does “poilu” come from?

poilu (English) comes from French poilu, from French poil, from Old French peil, from Latin pīlus, from Latin pīlum, from Proto-Italic pistlom, from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo-, from Proto-Indo-European peys- — to grind, to crush.

poilu (English): A French infantryman during the First World War

Definitions

  1. A French infantryman during the First World War

Ancestry of “poilu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpoiluhairy; brave, courageous; energetic; poilu
2Frenchpoilhair; bristle
3Old Frenchpeil—
4Latinpīlusa hair
5Latinpīluma pounder, pestle
6Proto-Italicpistlom—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpis-tlo-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpeys-to grind, to crush
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peys- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo- →Every word from Proto-Italic pistlom →