Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “yelp” come from?

Yelp comes from Middle English ȝelp, from Old English ġielp, from Proto-Germanic gelpaną, a verb of uncertain ultimate origin and meaning.

yelp (English): An abrupt, high-pitched noise or utterance; A...

Definitions

  1. An abrupt, high-pitched noise or utterance; A...

Ancestry of “yelp”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishȝelpBragging; excessive vanity or...
2Old Englishġielpboasting, arrogance, pride
3Proto-Germanic*gelp—
4Proto-Germanicgelpąboasting
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰel-to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;...

Words derived from “yelp”

  • yelpy
  • ayelp
  • outyelp
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰel- →