Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “poleward” come from?

Poleward derives from English pole, from Middle French pole, from Latin polus meaning the end of an axis, from Latin palus meaning stake, both ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- meaning to turn or revolve.

poleward (English): Towards a pole; Towards a pole of a planet

Definitions

  1. Towards a pole; Towards a pole of a planet

Ancestry of “poleward”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPoleA person from Poland or of Polish descent
2Middle Englishpole—
3Old Frenchpoulehen
4Vulgar Latinpullanominative feminine singular of pullus;...
5LatinpullusA young animal; darling; dark-colored; dusky
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanpolHwóspale, gray
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpelH-pale, gray
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pelH- →