Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “woolen” come from?

Woolen comes from Middle English wollen, from Old English wyllen, derived from Old English willan and Proto-Germanic wiljaną, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European welh₁- meaning to turn or roll.

woolen (English): Made of wool; Of or relating to wool or woolen...

Definitions

  1. Made of wool; Of or relating to wool or woolen...

Ancestry of “woolen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwollenMade of wool fibers or fabric spun therefrom;...
2Old Englishwyllenmade of wool
3Proto-Germanicwullīnazwoolen, made of wool
4Proto-Germanicwullōwool
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂wool
6Proto-Indo-European-nósCreates verbal adjectives from roots
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -nós →