Where does “völva” come from?

völva (English) comes from Latin volva, from Latin volvo, from Proto-Indo-European welw-, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

völva (English): In Old Norse society, a female practitioner of...

Definitions

  1. In Old Norse society, a female practitioner of...

Ancestry of “völva”, step by step

völva traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Latin volva

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinvolvawomb, female sexual organ
2LatinvolvoI roll, tumble
3Proto-Indo-Europeanwelw-hair, wool, grass, ear , forest; to turn, wind,...
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind

via Old Norse vǫlva

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsevǫlvavölva; prophetess, seeress, witch
2Old Norsevǫlra rounded staff
3Proto-Germanicwaluzstaff, stick
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwēl-to see, perceive

Words derived from “völva”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →