Where does “poilu” come from?

poilu (French) comes from French poil, from Old French peil, from Latin pīlus, from Latin pīlum, from Proto-Italic pistlom, from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo-, from Proto-Indo-European peys- — to grind, to crush.

poilu (French): hairy; brave, courageous; energetic; poilu

Definitions

  1. hairy; brave, courageous; energetic; poilu

Ancestry of “poilu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchpoilhair; bristle
2Old Frenchpeil—
3Latinpīlusa hair
4Latinpīluma pounder, pestle
5Proto-Italicpistlom—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpis-tlo-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeys-to grind, to crush

Words derived from “poilu”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European peys- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European pis-tlo- →Every word from Proto-Italic pistlom →