Where does “thrall” come from?

Thrall comes from Middle English thral, from Old English þrǣl, from Old Norse þræll, from Proto-Germanic þragilaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European trāgʰ-.

thrall (English): One who is enslaved or under mind control; The...

Definitions

  1. One who is enslaved or under mind control; The...

Ancestry of “thrall”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishthralA slave or serf; one in bondage or slavery
2Old Englishþrǣlthrall, slave, servant
3Old Norseþrællslave
4Proto-Germanicþragilazrunner; gofer; servant
5Proto-Indo-Europeantrāgʰ-pull, drag, race, run; to pull, drag, race, run

Words derived from “thrall”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European trāgʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þragilaz →Every word from Old Norse þræll →