Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “welter” come from?

Welter comes from Middle English welteren, of uncertain origin and meaning.

welter (English): A general confusion or muddle; A tossing or...

Definitions

  1. A general confusion or muddle; A tossing or...

Ancestry of “welter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwelteren—
2EnglishweltTo roll; revolve; A ridge or lump on the skin, as...
3Germanwelt—
4Middle High Germanwerlt—
5Old High Germanweraltworld
6Proto-West Germanicweraldiworld
7Proto-Germanicweraldizlifetime, worldly existence; mankind; world
8Proto-Germanicwerazman; husband
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
10Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “welter”

  • welterweight
  • superwelterweight
  • welter-weight
  • bewelter
  • welter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →