Where does “wholegrain” come from?

wholegrain (English) comes from English whole, from Middle English hol, from Old English hol, from Proto-West Germanic hol, from Proto-Germanic hulą, from Proto-Germanic hulaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

wholegrain (English): A cereal grain that contains cereal germ,...

Definitions

  1. A cereal grain that contains cereal germ,...

Ancestry of “wholegrain”, step by step

wholegrain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English whole

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwholeEntire, undivided; Sound, uninjured, healthy;...
2Middle Englishholhollow, empty; concave, sunken; holey
3Old Englishhola hole, a hollow; calumny; slander
4Proto-West Germanicholhollow; hole
5Proto-Germanichuląa hollow; depression; hole
6Proto-Germanichulazhollow
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

via English grain

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgrainThe harvested seeds of various grass food crops...
2Middle EnglishgraynA forking channel or pass; a fjord or estuary;...
3Old Norsegreinbranch; point, head, part; cause, reason
4Proto-Germanicgrainō
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel-Every word from Proto-Germanic hulazEvery word from Proto-Germanic hulą
wholegrain — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer