Where does “skull” come from?

Skull comes from Middle English sculle, from Old Norse skalli, from Proto-Germanic skwal-, from Proto-Germanic skul-.

skull (English): The main bones of the head considered as a unit;...

Definitions

  1. The main bones of the head considered as a unit;...

Ancestry of “skull”, step by step

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

Words derived from “skull”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)kel- →