Where does “Edelfäule” come from?

Edelfäule (German) comes from German edel, from Middle High German edel, from Old High German adal, from Proto-West Germanic aþal, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

Edelfäule (German): noble rot

Definitions

  1. noble rot

Ancestry of “Edelfäule”, step by step

Edelfäule traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via German edel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanedelnoble; elegant, classy, high-quality
2Middle High Germanedelnoble
3Old High Germanadalnoble; nobility; noble race
4Proto-West Germanicaþalnobility; race
5Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
6Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam

via German Fäule

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanFäulerot
2Middle High Germanvūle
3Old High Germanfūlī
4Proto-Germanicfūlį̄
5Proto-Germanicfūlazfoul, dirty; rotten
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpū-rotten, putrid; be rotten; putrid; to rot, swell,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el-Every word from Proto-Indo-European at-alEvery word from Proto-Germanic aþalą