Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wellhouse” come from?

wellhouse (English) comes from English well, from Middle English wellen, from Old English weallan, from Proto-Germanic wallaną, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

wellhouse (English): A small building that houses a well

Definitions

  1. A small building that houses a well

Ancestry of “wellhouse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwellAccurately, competently, satisfactorily;...
2Middle Englishwellento boil, to bubble
3Old Englishweallanto well
4Proto-Germanicwallanąto well up, spring out, bubble forth
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-—
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →