Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “snorkel” come from?

Snorkel comes from German Schnorchel, derived from German schnarchen and Middle High German snarchen, meaning to snore or make snoring sounds.

snorkel (English): A hollow tube, held in the mouth, or mounted on...

Definitions

  1. A hollow tube, held in the mouth, or mounted on...

Ancestry of “snorkel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSchnorchelsnorkel; submarine snorkel, snort
2Germanschnarchento snore
3Middle High Germansnarchen—
4Old High Germansnarhōn—
5Proto-Germanic*snarkōn—

Words derived from “snorkel”

  • snorkeler
  • snorkeller
  • snorkelen
  • snorkel
Every word from Proto-Germanic *snarkōn →