Where does “sapskull” come from?

sapskull (English) comes from English skull, from Middle English sculle, from Old Norse skalli, from Proto-Germanic skaljō, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kelH-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- — to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...

sapskull (English): A stupid person; a saphead

Definitions

  1. A stupid person; a saphead

Ancestry of “sapskull”, step by step

sapskull traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English skull

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishskullThe main bones of the head considered as a unit;...
2Middle Englishscullea type of oar
3Old Norseskallia bald head; bald head, skull
4Proto-Germanicskaljōshell; husk; rind; peel
5Proto-Indo-European(s)kelH-to cut; to split, to separate
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kel-to bend, crook; bent, crooked; leg, heel, knee,...

via English sap

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsapThe juice of plants of any kind, especially the...
2Frenchsaperto sap, do sapping work on; to erode, wear down,...
3Frenchsapea small scythe; hoe, mattock; fashion, style
4Old Frenchsappe
5Latinsappaa sort of mattock
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel-