Where does “stale” come from?
Stale comes from Middle English stale, from Old French estal, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-, a root meaning to stand or be firm.
stale (English): Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong; No...
Definitions
- Clear, free of dregs and lees; old and strong; No...
Ancestry of “stale”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stale | theft; the act of stealing; stealth |
| 2 | Old French | estal | position, place, site; stall, stable |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | stal | standing; market stall; stable |
| 4 | Old Dutch | stāl | — |
| 5 | Old Dutch | stahal | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | stahlą | steel |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | stah- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | stāk- | stand, pole |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | stā- | to stand, place |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |