Where does “queal” come from?

queal (English) comes from Middle English quelen, from Old English cwelan, from Proto-Germanic kwelaną, from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- — to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing.

queal (English): To faint away; Alternative form of quail

Definitions

  1. To faint away; Alternative form of quail

Ancestry of “queal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishquelenTo suffer from death
2Old Englishcwelanto die
3Proto-Germanickwelanąto suffer, hurt
4Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic kwelaną →Every word from Old English cwelan →
queal — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer