Where does “safehold” come from?

safehold (English) comes from English hold, from English hole, from Middle English hole, from Old English hol, from Proto-West Germanic hol, from Proto-Germanic hulą, from Proto-Germanic hulaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

safehold (English): A safe place; a refuge or stronghold

Definitions

  1. A safe place; a refuge or stronghold

Ancestry of “safehold”, step by step

safehold traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hold

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishholdTo grasp or grip; To contain or store; "To...
2EnglishholeA hollow place or cavity; an excavation; a pit;...
3Middle Englishholehealthy; safe; whole, complete, full
4Old Englishhola hole, a hollow; calumny; slander
5Proto-West Germanicholhollow; hole
6Proto-Germanichuląa hollow; depression; hole
7Proto-Germanichulazhollow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

via English safe

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsafeNot in danger; out of harm's reach; Free from...
2Middle EnglishsaufNot having experienced harm, damage, or ill...
3Old Frenchsauf
4Latinsalvussafe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,...
5Proto-Italic*salawoswhole
6Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂wós
7Proto-Indo-Europeansōlh₂-mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-Every word from Proto-Germanic hulazEvery word from Proto-Germanic hulą